Which of the following is not possible if the head gasket fails?

Prepare for the Pennsylvania Auto Physical Damage Appraiser License Exam. Use flashcards and multiple-choice questions, complete with hints and explanations. Ensure your success on the test!

When a head gasket fails, several potential issues can arise due to the loss of integrity between the engine's coolant passages and the combustion chambers. One of the complications associated with a head gasket failure is that it can lead to various forms of fluid leakage and combustion irregularities.

While option D discusses spark plugs misfiring and the car potentially not running, it's important to understand that the failure of a head gasket typically results in issues related to fluid mixing and pressure imbalances. Indeed, when a head gasket fails, combustion gases can leak into coolant passages (as described in the first option), coolant can enter the combustion chamber leading to white smoke from the exhaust (as noted in the second option), and there can be cross-contamination of oil and coolant (described in the third option).

However, the misfiring of spark plugs, while it can be a subsequent effect of these failures, is not a direct consequence of a head gasket failing. Instead, spark plug misfire can more often be attributed to other issues such as poor fuel delivery or electrical problems, making it less immediate and directly related to the head gasket failure itself than the other choices. Therefore, it’s accurate to conclude that spark plugs misfiring and the car not running,

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