Signs of a Failing Cylinder Head

Derek McWhorter • Feb 05, 2021

A properly working cylinder head is vital to the overall function of your engine. The cylinder head creates the combustion chamber that powers your engine. When it isn’t working properly, the entire engine works harder than it’s supposed to in order to compensate for the loss of this power.  Therefore, it is very important to understand the symptoms of a failing cylinder head. Below are the top symptoms to watch for:

 

Overheating

 

Overheating is the most common symptom of a failing cylinder head. In most cases this is caused by coolant loss, a leaky head gasket, or restricted flow of coolant.  It’s also a good idea to make sure your radiator is full and in good condition to prevent overheating from happening.

Oil Leaks

If your engine has started leaking oil, especially between the head deck and the block, then the head gasket is probably failing. However, in extreme cases, it could be a cracked or damaged cylinder head which can result in destroying the entire engine.

Poor Performance and Misfires

If your cylinder head is not functioning properly, it will most likely result in a loss of power for your engine and this will be the most obvious when accelerating.

Smoky Exhaust

If smoke is coming from your exhaust, that is a good indication that you could have a cracked cylinder head. If this is the case, then the crack and sequential damage are most likely going to be a lot more severe.

Once you have determined that your cylinder head is failing, then you will need to decide the best option for your situation. REMAN is typically the best route to go here and below is an overview video of our cylinder head REMAN process.

Contact us and we can discuss your situation and help you make the best choice for your engine.

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