The bolts that hold the head gasket of a Porsche in place perform an important job. If one becomes loose or broken, the gasket can fail and leave you with a plethora of problems. We are going to show you where to look to find the problem, the warning signs of a broken head bolt, what happens when your bolts do break, and how to prevent the problem in the future.

What is a Head Bolt?

A head bolt is a type of thick, long screw that seals your vehicle’s cylinder into place. Head bolts are used in several places on the cylinder to ensure that the seal is firm all around. They keep the engine together under high pressures and speeds.

Warning Signs of Damaged or Broken Head Bolts

Since head bolts are such a crucial part of your Porsche’s performance, there will be a few warning signs and symptoms when they break or come loose. This is because the gasket will begin to fail without these bolts to hold it in place. Watch carefully and take note of any of the following.

Misfiring Engine

When a head gasket begins to fail as a result of a seal being broken, it allows coolant fluid to mix with the oil in your vehicle. This can cause it to misfire when you try and start up your engine.

Overheated Engine

Because you are losing your coolant to a leak, your engine will begin to overheat. This is tricky to catch in time because your vehicle will seem fine on short trips taken with lower speeds. It is also hard to tell because your coolant will not be leaking onto the ground, as it is seeping into other parts of the car instead.

Oil Leakage

Since your coolant and oil ports are no longer sealed, the oil from your vehicle will begin to leak. Whenever you back out of a parking spot that you occupied for a while, check for any noticeable stains or puddles on the ground. What you will be looking for is a milky color instead of your typical black sludge. This is because the coolant has mixed with it in the engine.

White Smoke

Sometimes, the problem will present itself in the form of white smoke coming from your exhaust pipe. This is because the engine heats up whatever is left of your coolant. This can be hard to identify because it just looks like steam. Rely on your nose instead. If the exhaust smells sweet, you likely have problems with your coolant leaking.

Now that you know what you should be looking for, keep in mind what can happen when this problem goes untreated.

Long-Term Results of a Broken Head Bolt

When your head bolts fail, the issues with your Porsche will start to become more apparent as time goes on. If the problems are not fixed within a timely manner, other parts of your vehicle will start to fail as well.

Radiator Failure

The coolant leak will corrode parts of your Porsche over time, including the radiator. When the radiator fails, your car will always overheat and break down. Having one replaced costs thousands of dollars in many cases.

Engine Failure

Coolant corrosion can also break down your engine. Needless to say, this is quite possibly the worst thing that can happen to your vehicle. Without the engine, you can’t go anywhere.

Before it comes to something as serious as engine failure, you need to bring your Porsche to someone who can have the problem fixed up. As soon as you notice the warning signs, take it in for maintenance. It could still be something as simple as having the broken bolt heads replaced. But where do you go for that?

Why Choose Das European Autohaus

Das European Autohaus is more than equipped to help you patch up whatever issues may be plaguing your Porsche. Not every auto shop is quite up-to-par when it comes to fixing foreign parts, but that is what we specialize in! We are located in the Spring and Houston areas of TX. If you are nearby, you are in luck.

Don’t wait until broken bolt heads lead to a broken car. Come in as soon as you see something.

* Porsche 911 image credit goes to: Vladimir Mladenovic.