Cylinder Head Cleaning: Inspection
WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2005 Ford RV Cutaway, 2005 Ford Econoline, 2005 Ford E450 Super Duty, and 2005 Ford Cutaway. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
- With valves installed to protect the valve seats, remove deposits and gasket material from the valve heads and gasket surface with a scraper and wire brush. Be careful not to damage cylinder head gasket surface.
- Use a suitable solvent to remove dirt, grease and other deposits from the removed parts.
- Clean all bolt holes and be sure gasket surfaces, oil return holes, and coolant passages are clean. After rinsing thoroughly with hot water, blow them out using filtered compressed air.
- Wash all bolts (except head bolts, these must be replaced) with a suitable solvent and dry thoroughly.
- Inspect the cylinder head for cracks, burned valves or seats and scratched or marred gasket mating surfaces.
- Measure the cylinder head thickness. If the deck-to-deck measurements are not within specifications, install a new cylinder head.
NOTE:
Cylinder heads used on the diesel engine cannot be resurfaced. Install a new cylinder head if it is cracked or warped.
NOTE:
If it is suspected that the cylinder head has been resurfaced, use a suitable micrometer to measure the cylinder head thickness at four different points.