Your engine is made up of two main components, the cylinder block and the cylinder head. Both have very separate tasks to accomplish, and are often made of different types of metal. The cylinder head gasket seals not only the combustion chambers, but the oil and coolant passageways that flow between the block and the head as well, and with constant heat cycling, chemical exposure, and differences in the way the two metals expand and contract, making sure your head gasket is in good shape is crucial to the reliability of your engine. Generally lasting well over 100,000 miles, a leaking head gasket can manifest itself in a few different ways. Coolant mixing with the engine oil or exhaust is a prime suspect, but burning oil can also be a sign. When changing a head gasket, make sure to also change several other gaskets for parts you will be removing, and use new head bolts as the old ones may be stretched.