A significant portion of your vehicle's engine is made up of the cylinder heads.The intake of air and fuel is controlled by the cylinder head.Cleaning a cylinder head is fairly easy.Be careful not to damage the cylinder head during the cleaning process if it is completely disassembled.
Step 1: It is necessary to gather the necessary equipment.
You will need the tools and equipment to clean your cylinder heads.You can find a lot of what you need around the house, but you will need a chemical parts or brake cleaner from your local auto parts store.Warm water is needed to soak the heads.Before starting, you should have the following supplies: Brake or parts cleaner, canned air or access to an air compressor.
Step 2: The head needs to be completely disassembled.
There are a lot of small parts that need to be removed before the cleaning process can begin.The majority of cylinder heads contain one or two camshafts, intake and exhaust valves with supporting hardware.Cleaning the cylinder head requires the removal and storage of all of these parts.The valve cover on the top of the cylinder head needs to be removed.Remove all of the bolts first, then remove the rest of them.Don't lose any of the small pieces you took.The cylinder head may need to be pressed out using a machine press.You may need the help of a machine shop if you don't have access to one.
Step 3: Put on the right gear.
The process of cleaning your cylinder heads includes the use of chemical cleaning agents that are a serious hazard to your eyes and may irritate your skin.Make sure to wear appropriate safety equipment when cleaning your cylinder heads.Eye protection such as safety glasses or goggles should be worn at all times.Gloves that are resistant to chemicals will protect your hands.If you fill the tub with a non-spray parts cleaner, you may want to use gloves that extend to your elbow.
Step 4: Determine what type of material is used to make the heads.
Most cylinder heads are made of iron or aluminum.While each material has advantages and disadvantages, aluminum is a softer metal and may be more prone to damage in the cleaning process.If you want to know what kind of metal your cylinder heads are made out of, you can check the service manual for your vehicle or use the following factors.Light grey heads are most likely made of aluminum.While aluminum is not prone to rusting, iron is.Iron is used to make the heads if there are signs of surface rust.A magnet will not stick to an iron cylinder head.
Step 5: There is a plastic scraper that can be used to remove head gasket material.
There is a chance that you still have gasket material on your cylinder head.The head gasket creates a seal between the engine block and the head.Use a plastic scraper to remove the gasket.The gasket material can be found on the mastic surface of the cylinder head.gasket failure can be caused by scratches or damage when the engine is reassembled.Don't use metal scrapers or other tools that could damage the cylinder head.Make sure to remove the previous gasket material from the head in order to get a proper seal.
Step 6: The cylinder head needs to be placed in the tub.
Place the cylinder head in the first tub.Put the parts cleaner into the tub with the cylinder head so you can use it as you clean.You won't need to fill the tub if you use a spray cleaner.It's a good idea to be careful when moving the cylinder head.If your cylinder head is banged against a wall or table, the vacuum line nozzles will stick out of it.Depending on the situation, you may need to help move the cylinder heads into and out of the tub.
Step 7: To start scrubbing the head, use parts cleaner and a rag.
You can either use a rag or a cleaning agent to scrub the cylinder head.If you can't reach the areas of the cylinder head, spray or pour cleaner into them.Most carbon deposits and burnt oil will be broken up by the cleaning agent.The cylinder head's mating surfaces should not be damaged by anything other than a steel tooth brush.You should take your time to clean the cylinder head.
Step 8: Warm the water in the second tub.
The second tub should be filled with warm water after you scrub your cylinder heads.Make sure the tub is tall enough to allow the cylinder head to be completely submerged in water, then fill it with enough water to cover the head.The following step can be done outdoors or in a room with a drain.Make sure the tub is large enough to allow the cylinder head to be submerged.When filling the tub, use warm water.
Step 9: The cylinder head can be submerged in the water.
Put the cylinder head in the tub.The water will make its way through the areas of the cylinder head you were unable to access with your rag as well as helping to remove the cleaning agent you used in the previous step.It's important to rinse aluminum heads off because they can be damaged by exposure to caustic cleaners.The head should be allowed to sit in the water for a while.Warm water should be added until the head is completely submerged.
Step 10: Use a rag to wipe the head off.
Carefully remove the head from the tub of water and place it on a counter.To remove water from the cylinder head, use a clean rag.If there is standing water in the nooks and crannies of the head, make sure to wipe it out.You will not be able to completely dry the cylinder head with a rag, but removing the majority of the water will help it to dry faster.Don't use the rag with a cleaning agent.Make sure the rag is clean.
Step 11: You can use a spray washer to clean the head.
If you have access to a spray washer, which is a specific type of equipment designed to clean automotive parts, you can do a more effective job of cleaning the external and exposed internal areas of the cylinder head.Like cleaning it by hand, spray washers do a poor job of cleaning the internal surfaces that are hard to reach, but can dramatically reduce the labor required to clean the rest of the cylinder head.Many garage and machine shops have spray washers.If you don't want to clean other parts, smaller spray washers can be purchased at auto-parts stores.
Step 12: The cylinder head has to be hot tanked.
Hot tanks are used to thoroughly clean automotive parts.All internal and external surfaces in the cylinder head can be reached by the caustic cleaning agents in these tanks.All you need to do is place the part in the tank and turn it on, as these tanks require less labor than other cleaning options.Professional machine shops have hot tanks.After cleaning your cylinder heads yourself, you may want to have your heads hot tanked to make sure they are as clean as possible.
Step 13: You can use compressed air to blow water out of hard to reach places.
After drying the cylinder head with a rag, use a can of compressed air or an air compressor to spray out all of the narrow tunnels and openings.This will dry the head and remove any debris that may have fallen into it during the cleaning process.If you want to make sure there is no debris in the cylinder head, spray air into every opening.Make sure there is no debris in the cylinder head.The cylinder head can be damaged by small amounts of debris.
Step 14: Allow the head to dry out.
To dry the cylinder head, put it on a counter.Place paper towels over the top of the head to keep dust out of it.Don't store a head in the rain.Iron heads will oxidize and rust if stored wet.
Step 15: The head needs to be inspected for defects or damage.
Before you reassemble or store your cylinder head, make sure to inspect it for any damage that may have arisen from the cleaning process.If there are cracks in the head, they will compromise its ability to function and will cause head gasket failure.If you notice damage to the cylinder head, you may be able to have it repaired at a machine shop, but you will need a new head.The cleaning process should be resumed if you notice the cylinder head is still dirty.It is better to be safe than sorry.It will take a lot of time to reassemble and install a cylinder head.If the head is damaged, have it looked at by a machine shop.
Step 16: Put oil and bag in the head for storage.
If you intend to store your cylinder head for a while before re-assembly, you will need to take preventative action to protect it from debris and oxidation.Place the head in a heavy duty plastic bag after spraying it lightly.Make sure the bag is sealed to prevent dirt from falling into it.If you store the cylinder head in a safe place, it won't be damaged.