What causes the coolant in a car to bubble?

In the case of a blown head gasket, air enters the cooling system and causes bubbling. At the same time, coolant/antifreeze flows into the cylinder head through the leak in the head gasket.

What happens if there is a bubble in the radiator?

If bubbles are present during the test, combustion gas is leaking into the cooling system and this will need to be repaired. If left untreated, it could lead to a blown head gasket, which could leave you stranded. Geoff Hineman has been a professional writer since 2001.

What happens to coolant in a blown head gasket?

It keeps the combustion gases in the combustion chamber while keeping the coolant in the water jacket. A blown head gasket will allow coolant to leak into the combustion chamber, or externally, or could allow combustion gases into the cooling passages. If coolant leaks into the combustion chamber it will come out of your tail pipe as white smoke.

How to test for a blown head gasket?

To test for a head gasket problem, check each cylinder of the vehicle with a cylinder leakage tester while the engine is off. If bubbles are present during the test, combustion gas is leaking into the cooling system and this will need to be repaired. If left untreated, it could lead to a blown head gasket, which could leave you stranded.

In the case of a blown head gasket, air enters the cooling system and causes bubbling. At the same time, coolant/antifreeze flows into the cylinder head through the leak in the head gasket.

If bubbles are present during the test, combustion gas is leaking into the cooling system and this will need to be repaired. If left untreated, it could lead to a blown head gasket, which could leave you stranded. Geoff Hineman has been a professional writer since 2001.

Where does coolant come from in a blown head gasket?

A head gasket leaking external would cause coolant to come from below the intake or exhaust manifold and often only happens when the engine is completely warmed up.

What happens when you blow a head gasket on a car?

Bubbles in the Radiator. Besides allowing coolant into the combustion chamber, an internal head gasket leak allows exhaust gases into the coolant. This can cause bubbles to be in the radiator or coolant reservoir making the coolant look like it’s boiling even when it’s cold.