Head Gasket question

[jreask]

Does a bad head gasket always turn the check engine light on? I drove this vehicle at 35-40 MPH and at 65-70 MPH for about a half hour. The Temp gauge stayed steady. I did notice a small oil leak under where the vehicle was parked. I am not sure the CEL would come on with a bad head gasket?

 

[IanV]

I am no expert but from what I have read the valve cover is very loose from the factory and will leak oil over time. Mine did it too so I just tightened them all down just not too much. Someone else will chime in too I am sure but I think this is what you are dealing with.

 

[brian2sun]

The head gasket is not the same as a valve cover and it's a lot more intensive to get to. But, to answer the question, no a HG failure doesn't always set off the CEL, many times it won't. But why do you think it's a HG anyways? What are your symptoms? What does your oil and coolant look like?

 

[IanV]

I guess I didn't elaborate enough. It sounds to me like it is not your head gasket. The answer I gave you would be the solution to a loose valve cover. I head gasket would produce large amount of white smoke coming out of your exhaust due to burning water and possibly overheating. Leaking oil I would check you valve cover first.