How Do I Know If My Cylinder Head Needs To Be Replaced? ​

The cylinder head is a critical component of the engine, and once damaged, it may affect engine performance or even cause malfunctions. The following are the main criteria for determining whether the cylinder head needs to be replaced:

1. Observe the symptoms of abnormal engine operation

If the engine continues to overheat, even if the coolant is sufficient, frequent high temperatures may be caused by cylinder head cracks leading to coolant leakage or poor heat dissipation. In addition, difficulties in starting, unstable idling, significant decrease in power, or abnormal noise during acceleration may all be related to poor cylinder head sealing and valve seat ring wear.

2. Check the condition of the coolant and engine oil

When the cylinder head cracks or the gasket is damaged, the coolant may seep into the engine oil, causing the engine oil to be emulsified and milky white. When the engine oil cover is opened, foam like substances can be seen. On the contrary, engine oil may also mix with coolant, causing the coolant to appear as a cloudy oil film. Meanwhile, if the coolant inexplicably decreases and there is no obvious external leakage, be alert to the possibility of internal leakage into the cylinder.

3. Professional testing results

Through cylinder pressure testing, if the pressure of a certain cylinder is significantly lower than the standard value, and after excluding problems such as valves and piston rings, it may be due to cylinder head sealing failure. In addition, endoscopic examination can directly observe whether there are cracks, deformations, or excessive wear of valve guides on the surface of the cylinder head. Maintenance personnel can accurately determine whether the cylinder head meets the replacement standards through these professional inspections.

If the above symptoms occur and it is confirmed through testing that the cylinder head has cracks, severe deformation, or excessive wear, continuing to use may cause greater malfunctions. At this time, a new cylinder head should be replaced in a timely manner.