4 Aspects of Cylinder Head Reconditioning

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It may be hard for you to receive an accurate estimate of what it will cost to recondition the cylinder head of your vehicle until the cylinder head has been removed and inspected. This article discusses some of the issues which may need to be fixed once the damage assessment has been completed.

Warped Surfaces

Cylinder heads can develop warping if the head gasket blows. The warping develops close to the place where a leak is occurring due to the excessive heating which affects that part once the engine coolant cannot circulate properly. Improper installation can also cause clamp loads to be distributed unevenly on the surface of the cylinder head. This can cause the areas with excessive loads to become distorted. The cylinder head is usually machined in order to remove the protrusion around the warped area.

Valve Seal Replacement

Cylinder head reconditioning may also entail replacing the valve seals. These seals are located at the top of each valve. The seal stops engine oil from leaking into the combustion chamber of the engine. The seals can develop leaks once you take long without driving your vehicle and the seal dries out. The only remedy to such a defect is the replacement of all affected seals. 

Valve Guide Replacement

There is a smooth metal tube into which the valve stem referred to earlier slides. This tube is called the valve guide because it directs the valve and prevents it from moving erratically. Over time, the valve guide can wear out and cause the valve stem to begin wobbling as it moves. The valve guides should be replaced in case they are found to be damaged. Otherwise, the valve seat may end up being damaged too.

Valve Seat Repair

The valve seat is an opening in the cylinder head. This opening provides the space into which the cylinder valves are positioned. Various problems, such as damaged valve guides, can cause the seat to lose its smoothness. Cylinder head reconditioning takes care of restoring the smoothness of this space/opening so that the valves and their seals work as they should.

Ask a qualified mechanic to conduct a thorough inspection of the cylinder head before you decide the magnitude of reconditioning which should be done. Make sure that all the needed adjustments are made so that the cylinder head performs in accordance with the specifications of the carmaker. Avoid rushing the process of reconditioning the cylinder head.


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