How do I check for a blown head gasket - Kohler Command V-Twin Horizontal Engine with Electric Start 27 HP,

No, it means water is somehow getting into the crankcase, maybe head gasket, maybe condensation from an open system. Before changing the head gasket check for an opening in the oil system.

Hey Michael,
How/why do you think you have a blown gasket/cracked head??
....If you have a blown head gasket/cracked head you need to get it fixed ASAP.. Check your oil for cross contamination...( a light cream colored oil indicates water/antifreeze mixed with the oil).this WILL cause major damage if you continue to run the engine..(WATER is NOT a good engine lubricant!!!!) There are several "sealants" or radiator stop leak products... BUT ..cleaning these out of a coolant system is a NOT FUN!!.. Sorry.. trying to "patch" this will lead to more $$$$$ down the road!!

You have a blown head gasket. This is not a cheap repair, the intake and exhaust manifolds have to come off, the head has to be removed and check for warp. The block has to be checked and the gasket replaced

• coolant from exhaust indicates a blown head gasket or a cracked head on the block

You need to do a pressure test on the cooling system ,and maybe use some dye and use a black light to check the area you believe the leak is at . Hope this helps

You can't tell untill you get it apart. and then some times you still can't see a crack. It needs to go to a machine shop to be checked. I send them all out to be checked when I do a head gasket replacement.

a cracked head or blown head gasket,will cause your vehicle to have a miss in the cylander where the crack is or where the gasket is blown. you can also see coolant leaking if the gasket is blown. you can also see water in the oil,and white smoke come from the exhaust.
to tell for sure that the head is cracked,and not just a blown gasket is to remove the head. you will instantly see if the gasket is blown. if its not,then turn the head upside down and look at the small space between the valves,as this is where 99% of cracks occur.

Often (but not always), a blown head gasket will also cause deposit of water on a piece of cardboard held an inch from the tailpipe output while the engine is running (when this is happening, it is likely that the catalytic converter has been ruined and the muffler will corrode in short order as well).

Sometimes drops of water will be seen dropping from the end of the tailpipe. Another clue: turn on the heater; often when the head gasket is blown an odor of antifreeze and synthetic rubber will emanate from the heater vents.
Many of the symptoms of blown head gasket can be caused by some other problem in the cooling system, without the head gasket being damaged. Conversely, other problems with the cooling system can cause a blown head gasket and/or warped head.

When checking for a blown head gasket, one of the most common tell-tale signs is a milky-gray ring around your oil cap. When coolant enters the engine oil through a crack in the head or through a blown gasket, it evaporates and leaves a milky ring around the oil cap. Another easy way to tell is to check your oil dipstick. Change your oil and pull out the dipstick. Make sure that you take note of how far up the dipstick the oil is. Top off your cooling system and fill your cooling reservoir to the top. Screw radiator cap back on and start engine. Run engine for about 20-30 mins. or until it reaches normal operating temperature. Allow engine to cool (engine must cool completely to get accurate oil reading!!). Check oil dipstick again. If the oil has a watery appearance and has risen noticeably up the dipstick, the you probably have a blown head gasket or a warped head. Also look for a dripping, sweet-smelling liquid coming out of your tailpipe. Any of the above symptoms could be the result of a blown head gasket. The easiest way to tell is with a compression meter. This replaces the spark plug and lets you know what compression each cylinder is running at. If your compression is abnormally low, then you have a blown head gasket or a warped head. (note: consult repair manual for appropriate compression of each cylinder.)

White smoke is coolant being burnt. That with your lose of power would suggest a bad head gasket. A compression test could confirm it. Hope this helps.

there are many was a head gasket can blow . sometimes they just leak to the outside sometimes they leak to the coolant and then it blows out your antifreeze. if you have a blown head gasket you will see it when you pull the head. and yes you should hace the head checked at a machine shop and install with a new head set never reuse a gasket .
later paul