Log In The author of this article has suggested that we need to be on the lookout for problems with the gasket, much as we would with breaks or the transmission. However, what is a gasket? A gasket is basically the heart of the vehicle. It pumps to keep the engine going. However, it has to be able to withstand extreme forces. If it cannot do so, then it could be a recipe for a blown head gasket. Have you even suffered from either a blown gasket or a situation that could have lead to one? What are some things you could have done to prevent the situation? Would such preventative measures have been expensive?