What is a common symptom of a blown head gasket?

• A. Coolant leaking into the oil pan
• B. Excessive brake fade
• C. Squealing tires
• D. Low oil pressure

Answer: (A)

When a head gasket fails, it creates a breach between the coolant passages and the oil passages. That allows coolant to seep into the oil system, contaminating the oil and often collecting in the oil pan. This contamination is a classic and recognizable sign of a blown head gasket, and it can lead to poor lubrication, sludge buildup, and overheating if not addressed. You might also notice milky-looking oil on the dipstick or during an oil drain, which reinforces the diagnosis.

The other symptoms don’t fit head gasket failure: excessive brake fade points to overheated braking components, squealing tires relate to brakes or tires, and low oil pressure comes from oil pump or lubrication system issues unrelated to the gasket breach.