Head Gaskets
Story by Hank O’Hop at Zalutko Business Services, Inc.
application is boosted, you can multiply the amount of pressure in the chamber by quite a bit.
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On a side note, head gasket thickness can increase or reduce compression, which is an important thing to consider in when building an engine, as this has a direct impact on performance. The material used is also a very delicate matter that needs to be taken into consideration because how the material acts between the two surfaces during the engine cycle can have a significant impact on the gasket’s lifespan.
ealing with a faulty head gasket is never fun. Despite being a single gasket, they are vital to the function of an engine. If the head gasket fails, performance and economy will suffer. To make things worse, prolonged use of an engine with a blown head gasket can be harmful to the moving parts and can even destroy the engine entirely. While a blown head gasket likely won’t immediately grenade your engine, it’s still something you need to address as soon as possible. Yeah, your neighbour’s buddy drove his jalopy around with a blown head gasket for years, but you don’t want to tempt fate like he did.
The cylinder head also needs to be cooled. Coolant is delivered to the cylinder head by water ports located in both the engine block and the head itself. As the water heats up and cycles through the engine, there will be a considerable amount of pressure in the system.
Head Gaskets 101 So, really, how important is a head gasket, and why does ev- The head gasket’s job is to provide a seal for both the water eryone push to replace it? While head gaskets are a big deal, ports and the combustion chambers. This is a delicate matter as the holes in the gasket are relatively close to one another. This their function is quite simple. distance varies from engine to engine. No matter the design, the “One of the most critical gaskets in your engine, the head gasket gasket is simultaneously dealing with pressure from the cooling is designed to seal the cylinders to ensure maximum compres- system and the combustion chamber. sion and prevent coolant and engine oil from leaking into the cylinders. The head gasket withstands the stresses of the two The valve train also needs to be lubricated. In many engines, surfaces expanding, shrinking, warping and rubbing while seal- the oil travels to these components through openings in the ing in coolant and engine oil running through casting ports,” block and head as well. It’s not always the case, but if it is, the says Fel-Pro, an industry-leading aftermarket manufacturer of gasket’s job becomes even more critical. Without this gasket, the high-quality gaskets. Any time two surfaces are mated in an engine, a gasket is present to provide a seal. Even if the parts are freshly machined, some imperfections prevent a perfect seal. Pressure and vacuums love to exploit these imperfections, which makes a gasket essential. The cylinder head and engine block work together to create the combustion chamber. The environment of a combustion chamber is exceptionally violent when an engine is running. The piston creates a vacuum as air is drawn in, then with a ton of pressure during the compression, combustion strokes. If the JUNE/JULY 2020 MUSCLE CAR Plus MAGAZINE 23
