How to Sell a Car With a Blown Head Gasket

Head gaskets play an important role in the overall operation of your car, especially the engine. When a head gasket blows, coolant drips into the internal combustion area, which is hot, causing the radiator fluid to steam, then generate heavy clouds of smoke. Mechanics know that a blown head gasket is a very expensive repair and will not budge when it comes to a discounted cost. So, often times, car owners with a blown head gasket are faced with the reality of a total loss vehicle since the cost to repair the gasket is more than 50% of the current market value for the vehicle.

Fortunately, you still have options in a situation like this. 

Signs of a Blown Head Gasket

The most common sign of a blown head gasket is thick plumes of white smoke discharging from the tailpipe of the vehicle. If you see large clouds of white smoke coming out of the rear end of your car as you drive, you have likely just blown out head gasket. Also, seeing a thick, greasy yellow oil under the oil cap is a sign of a blown head gasket. If you have a blown gasket, you should immediately pull over and contact Melbourne Towing Guys to have your car transported to your auto shop of choice or back to your house, whichever you prefer. But you cannot and should not drive a vehicle with a blown head gasket. You will only do more internal damage to your vehicle, plus put yourself and others in danger.

Tips for Selling a Car After Blowing a Head Gasket

You have 4 options for selling a car after blowing a head gasket. You can claim the loss under your insurance policy and use the insurance money to buy a new vehicle. You can sell your car privately on the market for a substantially discounted price to anyone who is up for having the car repaired back to an operational condition. You can also try to trade your car into a dealership.

Although the blown head gasket might have rendered your car a total loss, a dealership might take it in as a trade in. If you do this, you will need to be prepared with some acute negotiation skills. Dealerships are known to take advantage of anyone trying to trade in a damaged or operational vehicle. You can expect a very low trade-in value. In most cases, it’s not mathematically worth it.