Cylinder heads seal combustion chambers above engine cylinders. They are very important in their function, but they are light and break easily from heat and stress over time. While aluminum overhead cam designs crack earlier, cast iron will fail as well.
But there is one problem that causes most cracked heads. Keep reading to find out the causes and the cost to fix a cracked cylinder head.
Common Causes of Cylinder Head Cracks
The usual reason for cracked cylinder heads is caused by an overheated engine because various engine components will be stressed beyond the point they are intended to.
A large reason cracks form on cylinder heads is due to valve seats hardening from concentrated heat. This causes added stress on the cylinder heads over time and ultimately creates small cracks.
Another variable to consider is that the engine does not necessarily have to overheat for the process to occur. Ultimately, the valve seats can still be operated under stress and have sufficient thermal load, easily creating cracks in the heads.
Cracked Head Repair Cost
Repairing a cracked cylinder head will vary by model. Generally, the most you’ll be looking at is $1,000. That is the low end.
However, depending on your vehicle’s make, model, severity, and the repair shop, it could easily amount to $2,000 or higher.
If your vehicle is currently under warranty, take it to your dealer, and the costs usually can be covered.
Sometimes, dealers may sell a vehicle with an engine containing two different metals combined, for example, a solid cast iron engine block that looks tough and strong from the outside.
But what they don’t tell you is that the cylinder head is aluminum, not iron. The aluminum increases the probability of weak spots in the aluminum, and the engine components can be put together wrong.
This leads to the cylinder heads cracking right away, even if the vehicle is new.
Prevention
The greatest thing you can do to prolong the life of your cylinder heads is keep your radiator full of fluid and checked for any leaky hoses or stretched belts.
If the vehicle overheats, then you may need to replace the head gasket and check the cylinder heads for cracks. At this point, a mechanic can make the best recommendation as to whether or not the cylinder heads need to be replaced.