Car cylinder head gasket

How to detect the cylinder head gasket failure

The cylinder head gasket faults are quite difficult to detect. For this you need a special gauge - a cylinder compression tester. With its help, compression in the adjacent engine cylinders is measured. If the gauge readings are equally decreased, then, most likely, the gasket has failed. A more comprehensive inspection is possible at a service station and usually involves the cylinder head disassembly.

You may identify that the cylinder head gasket requires to be diagnosed by the following signs:

• hindered engine start;
• white sludge on the dipstick after checking the oil level;
• high gas generation in the expansion tank;
• oil stains on the coolant surface;
• oil traces at the junction of the cylinder block and its head;
• white smoke from the exhaust pipe.

Causes of the cylinder head gasket failure

The most frequent cause leading to the cylinder head gasket burn-out or warping is engine overheating. It can result from the clogged radiator, coolant leakage, the air filter contamination, faults in the the pump belt drive performance, etc. To prevent this, you have to monitor the cooling system operability and comply with recommendations for its use.

Many failures of the gasket occur due to installation errors. The part fastening bolts should be tightened with a torque wrench in a certain order. Otherwise, the tightness of fit of the gasket to the cylinder head surface may be impaired, which leads to the engine malfunctions. Besides, when selecting the sealing element, it is advisable to give preference to products from well-recognized manufacturers: installation of low-quality parts may cause their premature wear and even an engine failure. To save on your purchase, you can buy a cylinder head gasket kit and replace all worn out gaskets simultaneously.

Replacement of the cylinder head gasket

The component replacement should be performed not only when it fails, but every time when doing the cylinder head dismantling and disassembly. This procedure is quite complex and important: even the slightest mistakes during removal can damage the engine. That is why it is advisable to replace the cylinder head gasket at a service station. If you are sure that you can properly install the part without professional help, then, before proceeding with the work, be sure to read the automaker’s recommendations and the information in the car technical documents. It always indicates the tightening torque and the sequence of tightening of the cylinder head bolts.

Dismantling the unit always involves removal of accessory equipment. To make the reassembly procedure easier, mark the position of individual units. Before unscrewing the bolts, remove dirt and oil deposit traces from their surfaces. Fasteners are removed in several steps: first, the external tension should be relieved and the fasteners tightening should be loosened, and only after that you can remove them completely.