Do i need to change the Head gasket?

well my car was parked for 3-4 years used to run great but after it was parked trouble started i fixed every thing only 1 thing left is the car accelerate slowly i asked the mechanic and he said parking the car too long damaged the head gasket so the car lost its compression therefore less torque on the 5th gear i wonder if that sounds right?Do i need to change the Head gasket?If the car does not overheat, that is not the problem! Unless the outside possibility that the web at thinnest part between cylinders is leaking, -- in which case two cylinders would be dead-- compression leaking from one to other on power srtroke! If engine runs evenly and not missing , - it is not head gasket! (remember it can't be overheating either)!



How much gas did it have in it?? This stuff they call %26quot;gas' is pathetic, and left sitting - in as little as three months, - it can start %26quot;rotting down%26quot;, - it turns to gummy sludge, and if left long enough will ruin gas tank and fuel system, - as it is near impossible to clean out (economically)! That is unless you put a fuel stabalizer in it when %26quot;putting up for storage%26quot;! Thousands of lawnmower carbureters are ruined by it every winter, and thousands of snow blowers are ruined by it during the summer! Simply because fuel stabalizer is not used in the tanks of these engines!



Anyway, try putting in premium gas and fill as much as possible, - the two will mix and bring up octane! If not improved after tank down to about 1/2 get a couple cans of Berryman B-12) and put in tank, then fill again with premium! This will start dissolving gummy sludge and pulling it through ,-- go ahead and drive it till gas down needing fill, then try filling with regular gas you were using, -- it should run ok, - or you could try Berryman one more time, -- be advised that enough %26quot;garbage%26quot; may be pulled through lines to plug fuel filter, - so if it doesn't want to run try changing filter!



Poor fuel gives less power bacasue it does not ignite well, - or completely, - which obviously would affect acceleration a lot!
Do i need to change the Head gasket?
have the compression check first, see what cylinder head is damaged if so, then see if you can get a friend to help you replace the gasket, save money this way
Do i need to change the Head gasket?
that sounds like a bunch of crap what kind of car is it what year



did you change the fuel filter and everything else

headgaskets dont mess up by sitting
That does sound right, without being used the head gaskets can dry up and crack leaving spaces for compression to be lost. Without the proper compression the engine wont accelerate as quickly, its like trying to ride a bike fast in a low gear.
Absolutely not true! It's true when cars are sitting to long, some of the rubber can dry out. However, to long is usually measured in decades. 3-4 years will not dry out anything . Also, the head gasket will likely never wear out just from sitting there.

It is impossible to give a proper diagnosis given the provided information. Provide more info and we can get you a better diagnosis since right now there are a million possibilities. For instance, you mentioned 5th gear, is that the only time you notice an issue. Curious, usually 5th gear isn't meant for acceleration anyways. I've driven race cars that barely accelerate in 5th.
Do a compression check on the car, change the fuel filter, fuel pump, air filter, spark plugs and wires. Head gasket shouldnt be bad.