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Cylinder head gasket change
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The complete guide: Replacing the head gasket
How much does it cost to replace the head gasket? How can you tell your head gasket is faulty? How do you replace the head gasket? Find out everything you need to know about replacing your head gasket, including installation instructions. You'll also find out the vital details you need to make sure your engine is one hundred percent sealed.
CONTENT
- 1. What does the cylinder head gasket do and where is it installed?
- 2. How can I tell that the cylinder head gasket is defective?
- 3. Why should I install a performance gasket?
- 4. The cost of a new cylinder head gasket
- 5. Instructions: Changing the head gasket
- 6. Performance head gaskets for performance upgrades
- 7. If you have any questions, please contact us!
What does the cylinder head gasket do and where is it installed?
The head gasket, also known as the cylinder head gasket, is vital to the engine. It sits between the engine block and the cylinder head and seals both from each other. This seals the coolant passage, cylinder, piston and oil return passages and ensures smooth gas exchange. So the head gasket is subjected to extremely high stresses, including heat, friction, and the massive movements of the piston etc. It is installed with expansion bolts that can only be used once. Paying attention to this is extremely important to ensure tightness.
How can I tell that the cylinder head gasket is defective?
You often don't discover a defective cylinder-head gasket until it's too late. If the cylinder-head gasket cracks (this is also referred to as a "blown head gasket"), this can happen due to insufficient oil, for example, as this causes the entire engine block to become too hot. This increases the thermal pressure, which stresses the gasket too much. So that you do not suffer capital damage with your engine, you should therefore pay attention to the following signs:
- White, thick smoke coming out of the exhaust.
- Exhaust gases are coming from the cooling circuit.
- You need to add coolant frequently.
- White, milky goo on the oil inlet cap.
- Unsteady noise at idle and reduced power.
- Oil or coolant leaking out the side of your car.
So a faulty head gasket can have devastating consequences. For example, the coolant can flow unhindered into the combustion chamber and even into the manifold etc.. The consequence is that the complete oil circuit is decomposed with the cooling water, which can manifest itself, for example, by misfiring and an altogether unsmooth engine run. Foamy snot on the oil inlet cap is an indication of water in the engine, which can also be caused by a defective gasket. Oil and gas can also leak from the chamber if the gasket is blown. With the appropriate gauges, we can inspect the cooling circuit for exhaust gases that don't belong there, and thus determine any damage.
Why should I install a performance gasket?
Even standard head gaskets are subjected to enormous loads and have to perform amazingly. However, as soon as we increase the power and drive accordingly with higher charge pressure, standard gaskets are no longer sufficient. Above a certain power level, the cylinder head gasket should have improved thermal conductivity, because this also gives it greater pressure stability. Our performance gaskets are mainly used in high-performance engines (from Formula and Rally Sport) and consist of a special combination of various metal multilayers that optimally meet the high demands. For tuning fans, the RACE cylinder head gaskets are definitely a must.
The cost of a new cylinder head gasket
The damage left by a defective cylinder head gasket is greatest the longer you wait. So if you notice the above symptoms, it's best to act fast and get the cause checked out. The longer you wait, the more severe the associated stress on all components, which in case of doubt will be more and more expensive.
Unfortunately, the replacement of the cylinder block is one of the most expensive measures we have to take when a problem occurs here. In terms of price, you're looking at between 500 and several thousand euros, depending on the vehicle manufacturer, other defective components, etc. However, this is not due to the price of the gasket, but to the amount of work involved in changing the head gasket (the engine has to be disassembled to reach the centrally located gasket).
Remember, the sooner you address the problem, the better.
Instructions: Changing the head gasket
If you want to replace the head gasket yourself, you obviously don't have to wait until it's defective. One nice reason is to increase power and upgrade to a performance gasket. Here's how it works:
- First, you'll need to disassemble the engine and expose the cylinder head.
- Then clean the cylinder head with brake cleaner and really make sure not to leave any dirt particles behind.
- The same goes for the engine block (especially the blind holes must be absolutely free of dirt and fluid)
- Set the piston to equal to prevent valve cranking.
- The new stud bolt and nuts you clean best also with brake cleaner and put them suitably. (Do not touch them without gloves, otherwise they will rust)
- Now spread a little Loctite on the threads of the stud bolt.
- Then screw stud bolt (by hand) into the block. Leave out the last two screws to be able to mount the head gasket better.
- Now put on the gasket (pay attention to the correct installation direction)
- Now put in the last two screws.
- Now brush the assembly paste(ARP Ultra Torque) on the upper threads of the stud bolt.
- Now the cylinder head comes on (check well whether it sits correctly) and the screws are brushed from above again with assembly paste.
- Also brush the nuts with Ultra Torque and tighten them from the middle to the outside with a suitable torque (tightening torque with ARP paste in 3 steps, as usual. Last step 110 Nm.).
- Done ;)
In this video the master himself explains how to change the cylinder head correctly:
Performance head gaskets for performance upgrades
In our shop you will find a huge selection of cylinder head gaskets for different makes and models. Among the most popular are always head gaskets for the BMW E46, Audi A3 and Golf 4. Further below you will find the gaskets for other vehicle manufacturers!
If you have any questions, please contact us!
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His first car was a Polo Mk1 with a 40 Weber twin carburetor and 129 PS (95 kW). His second was an Audi 50. Today Bartek tunes Lamborghinis to 1000 PS (735 kW). Even as a young boy, Bartek disassembled vehicles and put everything back together better. He wrote his high school diploma with oil on his fingers. The trained automotive mechanic with a focus on engines and gearboxes was determined to go into motorsports. In his 10 years in Formal 1, he supervised 73 races, including as engine mechanic for Ralf Schumacher at Toyota. Since 2010, he has dedicated himself fully to his company BAR-TEK® and helps his customers to bring VW and Audi engines to peak performance.
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