Things To Know Before You Buy & Install Cylinder Head Parts

The cylinder head is the top most part of an engine. It is fitted on the engine block. Between the cylinder head and cylinder block there is a head gasket. In all internal combustion engines, the cylinder head provides space for the passages that feed air fuel mixture to the cylinder other passage that allows the exhaust to escape. The cylinder head also consists of inlet and exhaust valves, spark plug or heater plug, valve spring, fuel injectors, camshaft, valve seal, valve cap or retainer, rocker assembly, small internal passage for lubricant and coolant to transfer excess heat away from the cylinder head. On top of the cylinder head, there is a top cover which protects all the internal parts of the cylinder head against dust and water. This top also known as tappet cover is also responsible for keeping the oil in the cylinder head so that there is no oil leakage.

There are three types of cylinder heads. Though they are different in design and parts, the function is the same.

1. Flat head cylinder head - These cylinder heads were used on the older engines such as flathead ford engines. In this, the camshaft is positioned in the block and not used in today's cars.
2. Overhead valve (OHV) - This type of engine cylinder head is still used. These cylinder heads have their valves located within them. The valves are operated indirectly from the camshaft through lifters, pushrods and rocker arms.
3. Overhead cam (OHC) - This type of cylinder head has the camshaft located on the head. The OHC can have single or dual camshafts. This system does not have lifter pushrods or rocker arms. The camshaft directly operates the inlet and exhaust valves.

The most important function of cylinder head is to open and close the inlet and exhaust valve. The cylinder head is located at the top of the engine block. It is made up of aluminum or cast iron. It is capable of withstanding huge pressure and high temperature while retaining its shape to seal the cylinder block via head gasket. The cylinder head holds injector valve camshafts, spark plug etc. The interior of cylinder head is a complex network of oil gallery and coolant passage. It also has different passages for air fuel mixture and exhaust gases.

The cylinder head has a number of moving parts. The camshaft gets its drive through the crankshaft. When the camshaft starts rotating, its cam lobes starts pushing the valve in downward and upward position. This causes the valve to open and close at the right moment in relation to the piston. That is to say, on the intake stroke, we want the intake valve to open and on the exhaust stroke, the exhaust valve to open. At all other times, the valves should be closed. The valves must therefore be synchronized with the piston and this happens by connecting the camshaft to the crankshaft by using a timing belt or timing chain. The camshaft can be called a mechanical computer which tells each valve when to open and close. This allows the fuel to get in and exhaust gases to move out from the cylinder head.

A Cylinder head has more moving parts than engine block. It also has more problems like high oil consumption, bad fuel mileage, engine overheating, cylinder head crack due to overheating, fuel mixture leakage, head gasket failure. Oil and coolant getting mixed due to cracks in water jackets or oil galleries. Valve seal getting damaged, poor performance, misfire engine tappet noise. These are some of the common problems.

There are a number of skilled auto mechanics who have a goal of opening their own car repair shop at some point in their career. But let’s face it, if you want to put up an efficient as well as profit making shop, then you might need much more than mechanical skills. There are a number of tools which you might need to perform the car repairs quickly as well as reliably. Auto repair equipment that you will need to repair your cylinder head system may include.

• Set Of Spanners
• Set Of Special Tools To Set Engine Timing
• Screwdriver Set
• Basic Socket Wrench Set
• Belt Tensioner Gauge
• Valve Lapping Tools
• Click Type Torque Wrench

If customers trust a brand, then it would make them loyal, and if they are loyal, then they will surely buy more. We are well aware that customers want comfort, cheerfulness as well as satisfaction in their lives and that’s the reason why we offer top quality auto parts brands to our customers. We make sure to provide a positive experience to our consumers from the brands which we are offering so that they can form an opinion that a particular auto parts brand is trustworthy and would give them peace of mind while they are purchasing it for their car. Here we have listed out some top brands for Cylinder Head Parts.

A cylinder head has the most moving parts. They are small and play a very important role. Camshaft, hardware like, valve, valve seat retainer lock, bucket or tappet, shell bearing valve seal, valve seat for inlet and exhaust, tappet cover. In the cylinder head, there is an oil gallery, water jackets, intake and exhaust port, head gasket and camshaft oil seal. These are important parts of the cylinder head.

• Nuts & Bolts
• Valve Spring Retainer
• Valve Guide
• Camshaft
• Camshaft Gear Valve Spring
• Inlet And Exhaust Valve

Cost and repair depend on the defect in the cylinder head. Most of the heads are removed for blown off head gaskets. Head gaskets are cheap but the labor needed is very expensive as the high labor costs have most to do with the location of the head gasket. The head gasket is in the middle of the engine so getting to them is no easy task. And require removing a lot of equipment. Besides being time consuming, there’s a good chance that some of the bolts or nuts holding this equipment on will be frozen or rusted making removal difficult. Even if you don't have a gasket related problem still the labor will be the same to remove the cylinder head. It takes about $300 to $600 for replacing the gasket.

Dismantling - Remove the tappet cover by losing its bolt. Use a socket to loosen the nuts or bolts of the camshaft wheel. This will loosen the timing belt, remove all socket connections, vacuum pipes, air filter connections and other connections which are attached to the cylinder head. Remove the silencer which is joint with exhaust manifold. Some engines need a special adaptor tool to fit to some bolts. If there is some extra space carefully lift off the head complete with manifolds if possible. As the head is heavy you may need a helper to lift the head. Remove the head and keep it in a safe place. Remove the head gasket.

Assembling - Before assembling check the surface of the cylinder head and cylinder block. Always take a new head gasket for fitment. Place the gasket on the cylinder block and carefully place the cylinder head on top of the gasket. Take the bolts and secure it by tightening it only in circular direction with the help of a torque wrench. Fit all the removed parts and at last fit the timing belt by adjusting engine timing.