Key Takeaways
The following are the key takeaways from this article:
- The cylinder head cover is designed to protect the cylinder and assist the head gasket in sealing the cylinder properly.
- The cylinder head cover can be flat-headed, overhead valve, or overhead camshaft type.
- The cylinder head cover comprises aluminum, molybdenum, or cast iron.
- Symptoms of a bad cylinder head cover include poor engine performance, oil leaks, and a drop in coolant level.
- The cost to replace the cylinder head cover can be between $400-600.
Introduction
Cylinder head cover protects the cylinder and allows the head gasket to seal the cylinder properly. Resultantly, optimum compression is produced for the combustion process.
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Blow-by gases from the combustion process can release combustion gases out of the cylinder, along with the oil droplets (1). The gasket is designed to prevent this blow-off and the release of combustion gases, but the cylinder head cover further protects the cylinder increasing the engine’s efficiency. This article will further discuss the types, characteristics, advantages, and common problems of a cylinder head cover.
Types of Cylinder Head Covers
Following are the three types of cylinder head covers:
Flat Head Cylinder Covers
Flathead covers are used in flathead engines, as the name indicates. In this engine type, poppet valves are in the engine block instead of the cylinder block, so the cylinder head covers are less complex and relatively flat.
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Flathead engines are less common in modern automotive models, so the chances are relatively slimmer that you will find flathead cylinder covers in your vehicle model (1).
Overhead Valve Cylinder Covers
Overhead valve engines have valves in the cylinder block above the combustion chamber. The cylinder covers are designed to compensate for the valve movement inside the cylinder.
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If you own a car model from the 1980s or 1990s, then there is a chance that your engine will have overhead valve cylinder covers (2).
Overhead Camshaft Cylinder Covers
Overhead camshaft (OHC) engines are much more common in the modern era. In these engines, the camshaft is located inside the cylinder block, so the cylinder head cover of these engines is much more complex.
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In these engines, the cylinder head cover of both SOHC (single overhead camshaft) and DOHC (double overhead camshaft) will have different designs (2).
Characteristics of Cylinder Head Covers
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Cylinder head covers are usually cast iron or aluminum, depending on engine specifications. However, modern car manufacturers mostly design aluminum cylinder head covers due to their lightweight and strong heat dissipation properties.
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So, the aluminum alloy head covers are used to reduce engine weight and increase heat-resistant properties. Robust engine function can increase the heat within the cylinder, which can impact the cylinder and its counterparts (3). Aluminum and molybdenum alloys can sustain more heat, so cylinder covers made up of these metals/alloys would not be damaged due to overheating. This helps the cylinder cover to perform its main function of protecting the cylinders. Further, the cylinder head covers provide air and gasoline for combustion in the chamber (5).
Common Symptoms of Bad Cylinder Head Cover
Following are some common symptoms of a bad cylinder head cover:
Poor Engine Performance
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Cylinder head cover maintains optimum pressure within the cylinders for combustion. So, a bad cylinder head cover would result in pressure leakage impacting the combustion process.
Eventually, the cylinders will misfire, and there will be a lack of acceleration. To further analyze the particular misfiring cylinder, you can take the car to a professional mechanic to perform a compression test (4). This will illustrate the particular misfiring cylinder and the problems with the cylinder head cover.
Oil Leaks
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As discussed above, the cylinder head cover is designed to maintain the oil. However, if the cylinder head cover is damaged, the oil leaks.
You will experience a rapid drop in the engine oil level before the service maintenance mileage, so if you are experiencing a drop in the engine performance along with a rapid decrease in the oil level (3). It is an indication that the cylinder head cover might have gone bad.
Drop in Coolant Level
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The passageways returning the coolant to the reservoir pass through the cylinder head cover. Therefore, if the head cover is damaged, then there is a possibility that the coolant is not returned to the reservoir.
Hence, you will experience a drop in the coolant level. Resultantly the engine temperature would go up (5). So, check the coolant level frequently to avoid any complex engine problems.
Conclusion
To conclude, the cylinder head cover is a protecting component that protects the cylinder and maintains compression pressure for combustion. The cylinder head cover can vary depending on the engine type and is usually made of aluminum/cast iron. A bad cylinder head cover will impact engine performance and result in a rapid decrease in the oil level/coolant level.
FAQs
Some common symptoms include a decrease in engine performance, oil leaks, and a drop in coolant level. You can also visually inspect the cylinder head cover by disassembling the engine.
The cylinder block is located at the top side of the engine. It comprises oil passages, cylinders, decks, head studs, a water pump, and a crankcase.
The cylinder head cover may survive the entire engine life. Therefore, you do not need to replace the head cover throughout the engine life. But overheating and increased engine vibration can impact the cylinder head cover that needs to be replaced to avoid complex engine problems.
