1994 Pontiac Grand Am Logo
Posted on Aug 10, 2010
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What's the difference between a blown head gasket and a blown intake gasket?

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BrianWren

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  • Contributor 296 Answers
  • Posted on Aug 10, 2010
BrianWren
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The head gasket goes between the block and the head, and seals the combustion process, and cooling water, and (if oil is pumped obove the heads to valve components) oil pressure.

Intake gaskets seal between the intake manifold and the head, and seal against intake vacuum, and in many cases, coolant.

A badly blown head gasket will so destroy compression in the cylinder that you can hear uneven cranking as that cylinder comes up on compression, kind of a “whir, whir, WHIR, whir, whir, WHIR, whir” with the capitalized whir being the engine spinning much faster due to no compression holding the starter back.

You will never be able to hear a problem with an intake manifold gasket until the engine actually starts to fire and/or run.

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  • Expert 135 Answers
  • Posted on Aug 10, 2010
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A HEAD GASKET FITS BETWEEN THE ENGINE BLOCK AND HEAD.. IT SEALS...COMPRESSION, WATER,AND OIL FROM MIXING.
A INTAKE GASKET FITS BETWEEN THE INTAKE AND THE CYLINDER HEAD OR HEADS USUALLY SEALS...WATER FROM AIR OF AIR FUEL MIXTURE

HOPE THIS HELPS

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5 Related Answers

Anonymous

  • 226 Answers
  • Posted on Apr 18, 2009

SOURCE: blown head gasket

I would change both, as well as use new head bolts. Make sure your heads are not warped or cracked, especially the one that is leaking. There may not be any need to change the head if it is not cracked. These are prone to blowing a gasket especially after 150K miles or so. It will not cost a huge additional amount to change both head gaskets since the engine will have to be disassembled down to the heads anyway. Hope this helps you, Rick

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Ronnie Wilson

  • 1596 Answers
  • Posted on Jan 14, 2009

SOURCE: head gasket sealant

As a A S E Certified Tech I Do NOT RECOMEND ANY "QUICK FIX" ADDITIVES Especialy for such a Critical Engine Component

More Costly but Also More effective is to Tear down Engine and Replace Head Gasket as You may have A Cracked Head Or Block That NO ADDITIVE will TRUELY REPAIR PROPERLY

Rough Estemate In USA Midwest $350.00-$600.00 For The Real FIX yep they vary that wide Some of us Love Helping PEOPLE the Rest LOVE THE MONEY MORE

Anonymous

  • 362 Answers
  • Posted on Jan 30, 2009

SOURCE: Gasket is blown, water in my oil.

As long as the heads are not damaged from overheating repairing would be an option rather than replacing the engine. Get advise from a mechanic you trust. The intake manifold gaskets are the most common problem with this vehicle if you have the V6 engine.

Anonymous

  • 316 Answers
  • Posted on May 10, 2009

SOURCE: how do u no if u have a bad head gasket or blown

Easiest way to test the intake gasket is to get a can of starting fluid and spray it around the intake area while the vehicle is running. Be careful, starting fluid is extremely flammable! If you notice an accelleration, or de-celleration while spraying the starting fluid, you can pinpoint the leak from there.

If you have a bad head gasket, you will see a white mucky substance on your oil dipstick.

I hope this helps you, and I wish you luck on your repair.

marley mcelhinney

  • 490 Answers
  • Posted on Oct 22, 2009

SOURCE: I just replaced the intake gaskets

theres an easier way to fix a blown gasket, its called seal-up you pour it in your radiator and it chemically welds it back together look it up on google most auto shops sell it or something similar, but replaceing the gasket is the best way

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