What are the different types of car engine heads?
By
Vroomouk
This blog post will answer the question, ‘What are the different types of car engine heads?’, and cover topics like what is a car engine head, components that make up a car engine head, categories of car engine heads used in car engines, cooling methods for car engine heads, and car engine head issues and their identification method.
What are the different types of car engine heads?
These are the different types of car engine heads that are available in the market:
- Flat car engine head
- Overhead valve car engine head
- Overhead camshaft car engine heads
What is a car engine head?
A car engine head in can be summarized in the following ways:
- A car engine head helps to seal off the engine combustion chamber from above
- Cylinder heads make up the upper section of a car engine, while the lower section is known as the engine block
- A car engine head ensures a steady flow of lubricating medium inside the engine so that all the critical parts can move with ease and also get cooled by it.
- It provides a protective housing for vital engine components like the spark plugs, the intake and exhaust valves, the fuel injectors, etc.
- As it provides a steady lubrication flow to the engine components, it also helps in discharging most of the heat produced due to combustion in the engine cylinders.
Components that make up a car engine head
Gasoline-powered engine
The engine head is made up of the following components in a gasoline-powered engine.
Ducts for intake and exhaust
The ducts are responsible for discharging the exhaust gases and permitting the optimum air-fuel mixture into the cylinder for combustion.
Camshafts
The main role of the camshafts is to control the opening and closing of the intake and exhaust valves. They are linked to the crankshaft using a timing belt that runs on a system of pulleys.
Fuel injectors
These components are responsible for permitting the optimum amount of fuel inside the combustion chambers for proper burning with air.
Spark plugs
These components are responsible for igniting the air-fuel mixture and initiating the combustion process.
Diesel engine
The car engine head is made up of the following components in a diesel engine.
Ducts for intake and exhaust
The ducts are responsible for discharging the exhaust gases and permitting the optimum air-fuel mixture into the cylinder for combustion.
Camshafts
The main role of the camshafts is to control the opening and closing of the intake and exhaust valves. They are linked to the crankshaft using a timing belt that runs on a system of pulleys.
Fuel injectors
These components are responsible for permitting the optimum amount of fuel inside the combustion chambers for proper burning with air.
Glow plugs
These components are responsible for helping the diesel engine start during cold weather as they act as heating elements.
Categories of engine heads used in car engines
These are the different layouts of engine heads used in car engines.
Flat car engine head
They are also known as flathead cylinder heads and only help in protecting the cylinder block, without possessing any movable parts. They, however, lack a proper passage for airflow, thus resulting in poor engine performance.
Overhead valve car engine head
These are the second type of car engine head that can be produced. Their characteristic feature is that they have camshafts located right above them.
Additionally, the valves and pushrods in this particular arrangement are all linked, thus enabling a direct and smooth passage for airflow.
Overhead camshaft car engine heads
These types of engine heads are the most advanced designs and have the camshafts located right inside the heads. This arrangement thus nullifies the usage of pushrods.
The above arrangement helps in promoting a smoother flow of air and also boosts engine efficiency.
Cooling methods used in car engine heads
Engine cylinder heads are either water-cooled or air-cooled.
Water-cooled car engine heads
This type of cooling method is the most advanced and popular in modern cars. In this arrangement, water is made to blend with antifreeze to prevent the formation of ice.
They are installed alongside an anti-corrosive medium as water can be corrosive. This method of cooling is very efficient.
Air-cooled car engine heads
Air-cooled car engine heads come with their perks as they have a simple design and are light on the wallet. They are also light in weight and easily manufactured.
The main reason for their reliability stems from their ability to cool even at freezing temperatures without the formation of ice.
Car engine head issues and their identification method
There are defects that can arise in a car engine head and they come with their respective identification methods.
Engine overheating is one of the most common and prominent defects that can occur in a car engine head as it forms cracks. If a car engine head is cracked, it can cause a leakage in the engine coolant and prevent efficient cooling of the engine.
These cracks additionally can result in engine oil leaking into the combustion chambers. This is a very serious problem and must be remedied with immediate effect to curb expensive losses.
Other defects that can arise in car engine heads are a sudden drop in engine performance and the issue of misfiring cylinders.
It must also be noted that water should not be added to the car radiator in case of overheating as that too can result in cracks on the car engine head due to a sudden fluctuation in temperature conditions.
Research has shown the different materials that are used to manufacture car engine heads and their advantages.
Conclusion
This blog post addressed the question, ‘What are the different types of car engine heads?’.
We came to know the various components that make up a car engine head along with the different layouts of a car engine head. Furthermore, different cooling methods and certain issues in engine heads have also been discussed. Please feel free to comment on the content or ask any questions in the comments section below.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): What are the different types of car engine heads?
How much does it cost to replace a cylinder head in a car?
An estimated cost of replacing a car engine cylinder head ranges from 3200$-3800$.
What does a cylinder head damage?
Usually, damaged cylinder heads occur due to a leakage in engine coolant thus overheating the vehicle or seepage of engine oil into the combustion chamber, causing serious issues and heavy repair costs. A damaged cylinder head can be identified by the formation of cracks on its surface. It also results in poor engine efficiency and misfiring cylinders.
Can a cylinder head be repaired?
The repair of a cylinder head is totally dependent on the severity and the number of cracks that have been formed on its surface. The methods that can be used to repair cracked cylinder heads are either pinning or welding processes.
