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Your car’s cylinder heads house all kinds of components meant for combustion. Things like spark plugs, valves, and different ports are all in the cylinder heads, and if they are gunked up or dirty, the engine will not be able to produce the combustion it needs properly. Unfortunately, cylinder heads are also susceptible to the buildup of carbon, old oil, and other contaminants that can cause serious issues. Knowing how to prevent engine damage by cleaning your cylinder heads will help you keep your vehicle in great shape.
Why Clean Your Cylinder Heads?
Your engine is exposed to a lot of contaminants including dirt, carbon, and old fluids. These contaminants can get into the small nooks and crannies, including in the cylinder heads where many of the most important processes happen. Cleaning the cylinder heads improves engine performance and prevents serious problems down the line.
Cleaning cylinder heads is one of the best ways to prevent common engine issues like knocking, misfires, and rough idling. When things like spark plugs get exposed to oil sludge or get carbon buildup, they don’t fire properly. This can result in rough engine performance that will eventually turn into serious mechanical failures. Knocking, for example, can cause overheating and damage to parts in the combustion chamber. Regular cylinder head service will keep your ignition system in good shape so your engine can run smoothly.
Top Tools for Cleaning Cylinder Heads
Before you start learning how to clean cylinder head parts, be sure to have all the necessary tools in place.
- Wire brushes are some of the most useful tools you can have on hand for cleaning your engine. They can get into the small, hard-to-reach places and will be abrasive enough to clean gunk and sludge without damaging components. Use care around aluminum material, especially the deck surface, which can cause deep scratches and gouging, resulting in poor sealing between the cylinder head and engine block.
- A gasket scraper will also be incredibly useful. You may need to use some elbow grease to get rid of old gasket residue or carbon buildup, so a fine scraper like that is a great choice. Again, use care with these on aluminum or on the deck surfaces to prevent gouging and potential sealing issues.
- You’ll need a ratchet and socket set to remove the components that cover it.
- It can also be helpful to have some kind of compressed air handy. A compressor and blow gun are perfect for getting dust and debris out of the small corners and tight areas of the cylinder head.
Plan on replacing the head gasket while you have the cylinder head off, so you’ll need a new one that fits your vehicle.
When cleaning cylinder head parts, you need to have the right cleaning products. There are specific cylinder head cleaning kits you can get but using a solvent parts washer should be sufficient. Cleaning solvents are great for removing grease and carbon and can be perfect for things like washers and bolts that need to be cleaned by soaking them.
There are also some specific carbon deposit cleaners and combustion chamber cleaners. These are ideal if you want to get your vehicle’s cylinder heads clean without damaging any of the delicate components within. A good carburetor or brake and parts cleaner will often do the job. Once you have all your tools and materials, you can start the cleaning process.
How to Clean Your Cylinder Heads
Step 1: Preparation
When you are ready to start cleaning your vehicle’s cylinder heads, park on a flat surface and make sure the engine is cool before disconnecting the battery. Then, drain all the oil and the coolant to ensure that you don’t have leaks when you start disassembling the engine.
Step 2: Disassembly
After the engine has been drained, start removing the components that are on top of the cylinder head. These usually include things like the intake manifold, exhaust manifold, and fuel injectors. Once you are able to access the cylinder head, remove the mounting bolts and place them in a bath of solvent cleaner before carefully removing the head.
Step 3: Begin Cleaning
Using the gasket scraper, scrape off the old gasket from the cylinder head and the engine block, taking care not to scrape so hard that you damage or gouge either of them. Then, spray the cylinder head with carbon deposit remover, including all the ports and valve areas. Let the cleaner sit for a while so it can eat away at the carbon and make it easier to remove.
Once the carbon deposits have been loosened, you can then start cleaning the cylinder head with wire brushes. This process may take a while, especially if you are new to cleaning cylinder head components. The carbon can be difficult to remove, and you may need to do a few rounds of spraying the cleaner and scrubbing before you start to see results. Remember, if the heads are aluminum, use care not to create any deep scratches or gouges to the material.
Step 4: Final Clean
After the carbon and other contaminants have been removed, you can rinse off the head and thoroughly dry it. Use the air compressor and blow gun to dry the hard-to-reach areas. You don’t want to reassemble the engine until the head is completely dry since excess water or cleaner can get into the combustion chamber and fuel and cause serious issues.
Step 5: Assembly
Install a new head gasket and carefully place the cylinder head back into position. Bolt the head back down to the proper torque sequence and tightening procedure with a torque wrench. Then, you can reassemble all the components you removed to gain access to the head. Once the engine is put back together, start it up and listen carefully for any misfires or knocking. If everything sounds normal, your vehicle is good to go and the cylinder head cleaning process is finished.
Maintaining Clean Cylinder Heads
The best way to avoid needing serious cylinder head service is to keep them as clean as you can. In addition to regular standard cleanings, there are several things you can do when it comes to your driving habits. For example, be sure to use high-quality fuel whenever possible. Contaminated fuel can cause all kinds of issues with your engine, including producing excessive carbon deposits. Changing your oil frequently is also incredibly important if you don’t want to constantly be cleaning cylinder heads. Old, dirty oil will gunk up the cylinder head components, so regular maintenance is essential.
When the time comes to clean your vehicle’s cylinder heads, JEGS has everything you need to get the job done. With a wide selection of head gaskets, cleaners, and tools, you can keep your engine running smoothly and efficiently. Plus, you can order online and have your products shipped straight to your door.
