How To Test For A Blown Head Gasket (1993-2008 1.8L Toyota Corolla)

In this tutorial, I'm gonna' show you the 4 basic tests that check for a blown head gasket.

The first two tests check for two of the most common head gasket failures: engine oil mixed with coolant and combustion/compression pressure shooting out of the radiator (with cap removed). Both of these can be accomplished in under 5 minutes or less.

The third test is a compression test and I'll show you how it's done and I'll also help you interpret its results.

You can find this tutorial in Spanish here: Cómo Probar El Empaque De Cabeza (1.8L Toyota Corolla) (at: autotecnico-online.com).

APPLIES TO: This tutorial applies to the following vehicles:

• 1.8L Toyota Celica: 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005.
• 1.8L Toyota Corolla: 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008.
• 1.8L Toyota Matrix: 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008.
• 1.8L Toyota MR2 Spyder: 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005.
• 1.8L Chevrolet Prizm: 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002.
• 1.8L Geo Prizm: 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997.
• 1.8L Pontiac Vibe: 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008.

Symptoms Of A Blown Head Gasket

If your Toyota still starts and runs, the most common symptoms of a blown head gasket is that the engine overheats rapidly.

Here are a few other common symptoms a blown head gasket:

1. Your Toyota is overheating. You've checked that:
   • Thermostat is good.
   • Fans are working.
   • Radiator is not busted (leaking coolant).
   • Water pump is OK (not leaking coolant).
   • Cooling system is full of coolant.
2. White smoke is coming out of the tail-pipe and it smells like anti-freeze being cooked.
3. Your Toyota won't start. You've checked:
   • All COP ignition coils are sparking.
   • All fuel injectors are injecting.
   • Fuel pump is good.
4. The engine oil is thick and tan to off-white color.

HEAD GASKET TEST 1: Engine Oil The Color Of ‘Coffee With Too Much Creamer’

This first test is a simple test and checks for one of the most common results of a blown head gasket on a Toyota which is coolant mixing with the engine oil.

In most cases, this is probably the only test you may have to do, to verify a blown head gasket, and not have to do the other two tests. But if this test doesn't conclusively verify a blown head gasket, then by all means proceed to the other two head gasket tests.

OK, I'll stop talking and we'll get this show on the road, this is what you need to do:

1. 1

   Open your Toyota's hood.

2. 2

   Pull out the engine oil dipstick.

3. 3

   What color is the engine oil?
   
   1.) Is it a creamy tan/off-white color.
   
   2.) The engine oil will be its usual normal color.

Alright, let's interpret the color of the engine oil:

CASE 1: The color of the oil is a light tan, like coffee with too much creamer. This result confirms that your Toyota's head gasket is blown.

If you're wondering why the oil looks like this? Well this is what happened:

1.) Your Toyota overheated to the point that the cylinder head warped (since it's made out of aluminum). This led to the head gasket to burn.

2.) Once the head gasket burns and the head warps, the head gasket is unable to keep engine oil, coolant, and compression/ exhaust gases from mixing.

3.) This leads to the coolant entering the engine oil pan. As both of these mix, the result is an engine oil that is an off-white/tan color.

CASE 2: The color of the engine oil is normal. So far so good, but more testing is necessary to make sure the head gasket is not blown (especially if your Toyota is overheating or not starting), go to: HEAD GASKET TEST 2: Coolant Shooting Out From Open Radiator.

Here's the reason why: In about 90% of the times, a blown head gasket will cause the engine's coolant to mix with the oil, but not always. And so another test or tests are needed to either confirm a blown head gasket or exonerate the head gasket as blown. The next test is to see if the engine's compression/combustion gases are escaping thru' the radiator.

HEAD GASKET TEST 2: Coolant Shooting Out From Open Radiator

In this test section, we're gonna' check to see if the engine's combustion/compression gases are making the coolant shoot out of the radiator (with cap removed).

If indeed the coolant is being shot out of the radiator (with cap removed), you've then confirmed that the head gasket is blown.

IMPORTANT: If your Toyota has been running for an extended amount of time, let the engine cool down for at least an hour, since this test step will ask you to remove the radiator cap. Be careful and remember that a radiator cap should never be removed from a hot radiator.

There's a good chance that your Toyota is not starting, in this case you don't have to worry about a hot engine.

1. 1

   Remove the radiator's cap. Check to see if there is coolant in the radiator. If the radiator is empty, add some water or coolant to bring it up to the radiator's neck level.

2. 2

   Crank the engine with the help of helper, while you stand at a safe distance from the open radiator.

3. 3

   You'll see one of two results:
   
   1.) The water or coolant inside the radiator will shoot up and out of the now open radiator.
   
   2.) The coolant will not be disturbed. In other words, cranking the engine will have no effect on the level of the water or coolant in the radiator.

OK, now that the testing part is done, let's take a look at what your results mean:

CASE 1: The coolant bubbled out or shot out from the radiator. This is a clear indication that the head gasket is blown.

This test result only happens when the head gasket has blown and/or the cylinder head has warped due to the engine overheating. No further testing is required.

The normal/correct test result is for the coolant to remain undisturbed no matter how long you crank the engine.

CASE 2: The coolant DID NOT bubble out NOR shoot out from the radiator. If cranking the engine had no visible effect on the level of the coolant in the open radiator, this is normal.

If you were to ask 10 persons, what is the most common symptom of a blown head gasket, 9 out 10 would say, without hesitation, engine oil mixing with coolant and engine compression/combustion gases shooting out of an open radiator neck and yes they would be right but not in all of the cases. There are times when this doesn't happen and so the next test will help to further verify this, go to: HEAD GASKET TEST 3: Engine Compression Test.