Full Answer
What is a valve job on a car?
A valve job is removing the cylinder head (s) from the engine so the valves, guides and seats can be refurbished to restore compression and oil control. A valve job may be necessary by the time an engine has 80,000 or more miles on it, or to fix a "burned valve," compression or oil burning problem.
What does the head gasket do?
Its job is to seal the two mating surfaces of the top and bottom halves of the engine. This means, unlike any other gasket in an engine, the head gasket has to seal oil, coolant, and compression from the cylinders simultaneously.
What is a Jughead engine?
In old Buicks before the 1920's, it was overhead valve but the head was not removable, the valves were removable because they were in cages but the head was not. To take the head off you had to go down lower and remove the whole upper half of the engine including the jugs. So it was called a jughead engine. Show activity on this post.
What are the different types of cylinder heads?
There are three basic types of cylinder heads: Flathead Cylinder Head - These cylinder heads were used on older engines such as the flat-head Ford engines (like seen below). The oval protrusion at the top of the cylinder head is for coolant flow.
What does a head job mean in cars?
The main task of the cylinder head is to close the combustion chamber of the engine from the top. The upper part of the engine is called the cylinder head, while the lower part is the engine block. The cylinder head sits on the engine and closes off the combustion chamber.
How much is head work on a car?
The Best in Auto Repair The average cost for cylinder head replacement is between $3,366 and $3,705. Labor costs are estimated between $1,190 and $1,501 while parts are priced between $2,176 and $2,204.
How do I know if my car needs a head job?
If you are concerned that your head gasket might need to be replaced, look for the following symptoms.Engine Overheating.Rough Idle. ... Visible Tailpipe Smoke. ... Milky Build-Up Under Oil Cap. There is an easy way to find out if your engine's head gasket has blown. ...
How do I know if my Headgasket is blown?
1:262:24How to Tell if Your Head Gasket is Blown - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipHere's how you tell if a blue liquid turns yellow like this it means your I'd gaskets blown. SinceMoreHere's how you tell if a blue liquid turns yellow like this it means your I'd gaskets blown. Since the blue test liquid has turned yellow that means that there's combustion gas inside the radiator.
How much is a new head on an engine?
Cylinder Head Replacement Costs The average car owner can expect to pay about $1,800 to replace a cylinder head with a brand new one. The typical price range for cylinder head replacement is between $1,000 to $3,000.
Is replacing a cylinder head Expensive?
The minimum cost you can expect to pay is $500, but with parts and labor costs it could easily go to $1,000. Then depending on your make, model, seriousness, and where you take your vehicles for repairs, it may cost you $2,000 or even more.
How much does a new head gasket cost?
between $1,624 and $1,979How Much Does it Cost to Replace a Head Gasket? According to a national average, it costs between $1,624 and $1,979 for a head gasket replacement. The associated labor costs are estimated between $909 and $1147 while the parts themselves vary in the range of $715 and $832.
Can you still drive a car with a blown head gasket?
Blown your head gasket? Keep driving with a blown head gasket and it will inevitably lead to further car trouble. K-Seal can stop the problem in its tracks, before it's too late. Technically you can drive with a blown head gasket, but we'd always advise against it.
Is it better to replace head gasket or engine?
If your head gasket leak has caused this problem you are almost always better off replacing the whole engine as a new head gasket will stop the leak but bearing damage has probably already been done.
How long will my car last with a blown head gasket?
Some engines will stop operating altogether within one day. You might be able to drive the car for a week, or it may last for a few months if you use a temporary fix on it. As a rule of thumb, it's best to NOT drive if you suspect a head gasket issue.
How long does it take to replace a head gasket?
Replacing the gasket can take anything from six hours to a few days, depending on the severity of the failure. A blown head gasket is one of the biggest failures your car can suffer, and to fix it properly takes time.
Can you fix a head gasket without replacing it?
Most blown head gaskets can be properly fixed without a mechanic. There is a point where the damage is too great and you will need the expertise of a professional to replace the gasket, but many leaks in a head gasket can be taken care of with one of our products.
What is the job of a head gasket?
A head gasket is the gasket that sits between the cylinder head and the block. Its job is to seal the two mating surfaces of the top and bottom halves of the engine. This means, unlike any other gasket in an engine, the head gasket has to seal oil, coolant, and compression from the cylinders simultaneously.
How does an engine work?
Inside an engine you have a piston going up and down within a cylinder. On top of the cylinder you have the cylinder head, which allows the fuel/air mixture to enter, and the exhaust gases to leave via inlet and exhaust valves. Without a good seal between the cylinder head and the cylinder, when the piston rises on the compression stroke some ...
Why is the head gasket the most stressed gasket in an engine?
A head gasket needs to seal the oilways between the cylinder head and block, so that oil can freely circulate around the entire engine.
Why are cylinder heads crushed?
These are actually crushed when the cylinder head is tightened onto the engine block to provide a seal capable of dealing with the high temperatures and pressures involved. This is why you must always tighten to the head bolts to the required torque settings; too tight and the gasket will be crushed too much to form a proper seal, ...
What is a head gasket made of?
Earlier head gaskets were often made from composite material (often referred to as fibre head gaskets), typically graphite-based coated in a wax-like finish, and with beads of silicone around the waterways and oilways to aid sealing.
What is a cylinder head?
First let's explain the Flathead Cylinder head a little. Like I said before, it is basically just a flat chunk of metal which seals the top of the cylinder. In the image above, the top portion of the image (as I stated) is the flat part.
What is a jughead engine?
So it was called a jughead engine. "Head" in general refers to an end or closure of a pressure containing part ,such as an engine cylinder head , heads of a pressure vessel , heads of a barrel, etc. Nothing specifically to do with gaskets. And a second use of "head" for pressure , as a "head of steam".
What is an OHV head?
In the picture, the flat surface of the head (right side of the image) is the portion which faces the engine block. The left side is where you see the valve tips, valve springs, retainers, and keepers.
What is an over head cam?
Overhead Cam Head (OHC) - This third type of head usually has the camshaft co-located with the cam. It is called "over head", because the cam actually resides over the top of the head. The OHC can have a single (SOHC) or dual (DOHC) configuration. (You can learn more about the differences between a SOHC and DOHC in this SE post ).
What are the different types of cylinder heads?
Types of Cylinder Heads: There are three basic types of cylinder heads: Flathead Cylinder Head - These cylinder heads were used on older engines such as the flat-head Ford engines (like seen below). The oval protrusion at the top of the cylinder head is for coolant flow. Coolant would flow up from the block and through passages in ...
What is seat in a car?
The seat is the portion which is discolored and looks to be machined at an angle. When the seats are place, a place is machined into the head where the seat will later be driven into it. Then the seat is cut at specific angles so the valve will make perfect contact with the seat and create a positive seal.
What is the purpose of the intake and exhaust ports?
Intake/Exhaust Ports: The intake and exhaust ports are the part of the head which allows the air/fuel mixture to enter the cylinder and the exhaust gasses to leave the cylinder. The size, shape, and texture of these can help or hinder how the air flow occurs. With greater flow comes greater power and torque.
Why machine a cylinder head?
For the most efficient fluid flow and maximum performance, the cylinder head can be machined to reduce the amount of small restrictions and rough patches that could hinder the flow into each respective cylinder. Reducing the turbulence of the fluid flow will produce a smoother intake and exhausting of the system, producing a power increase.
What drill do you use to port a cylinder head?
Basic head porting can be completed using a small handheld drill with tapered grinder drill bits, essentially acting as motorised sandpaper. For heavier-duty jobs like port matching, you’ll need a die grinder and carbide burrs to eat through the cylinder head material cleanly.
Does head porting increase power?
It's a job for only the most-skilled of mechanics, but head porting can lead to some impressive power gains if performed properly. Remind me later. There are countless ways to modify a car for more power, but they all come down to the same common factors: getting more air and fuel into the cylinders, combusting it efficiently ...
What is the job of a valve?
Most common jobs performed as part of a valve job should include: First, a visual inspection looking for broken and damaged parts. Completely disassemble the head, so all of the parts can be cleaned and inspected. Inspect the cylinder head casting for, cracks or other damage. The best way would be by, pressure testing.
Is there such a thing as a standard valve job?
So, there is no such thing as a “standard” valve job anymore. Because, every valve job is different. An (OHC) head may require a lot more time and effort than, a head off a pushrod engine. There is often no way to tell what a head will need in terms of repairs, until it has been: Cleaned. Disassembled.