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Cylinder Heads

The cylinder head is the top part of the engine and sits on top of the engine block. The cylinder head houses the valve train and has several oil & water ways to allow cooling to engine. Cylinder heads can become warped or cracked if the engine has suffered from overheating or neglent. This can sometimes be repaired by an engine re-manuafcturer. If the cylinder head is cracked, a replacement head is necessary. Most cylinder heads are an alloy casting, but some earlier engine designs, like the A-Series Mini, have cast iron cyilnder heads. 
 

Detecting Car Cylinder Head Problems

There are several things that can go wrong with car cylinders. Some of the most common tell tale signs of a car cylinder head problem include:

  • Odour: If there is a strong odour that can be described as a sweet, rubbery scent inside of the car, owners may want to take the vehicle in for service. Often times, this smell is coolant, and it may be leaking into the cylinders.
  • Smoke: If gray smoke is being expelled from the exhaust pipe, there may be a car cylinder problem. This smoke signals that the engine is heating up more than it should.
  • Leaks: If a puddle of liquid is found under the engine, car owners may want to check coolant levels. If the coolant light is on in the car as well, this most assuredly points to a problem with the cylinders, such as a crack in the head gasket.

If a car owner notices any of these problems, he or she should take the car in to a mechanic. There, the mechanic will hook the car up to a diagnostic computer to check for any cylinder or gasket problems. Diagnostic tests are quick, efficient, and relatively inexpensive.

 

Cylinder heads in the UK