Four Symptoms or Signs Your Engine has a Cracked Head and Requires Repairs

A cylinder head is a fundamental component of your engine, withstanding considerable pressure and high temperatures, housing other parts of your engine, such as the intake and exhaust valves, combustion chamber and more.

In other words, a cracked head can cause a major headache.

Cracked cylinder heads are a common engine problem in many of the vehicles. 

Noordeman Diesel are experts in cracked head repairs across a range of vehicle types.

The most important thing is to identify that you may have a cracked cylinder head and to get it fixed.

This leads us to some of the tell-tale signs that your cylinder head needs some urgent attention. Read on to find out more.

1. What’s That Smell?

Leaks from your engine can be an indicator of a number of problems, from oil to brake fluid.

However, if you detect a strong, almost sweet odor coming from your engine when your car is running, it could be a sign that your cylinder head is cracked.

This slightly odd smell is a combination of coolant, which is normally tightly contained by the cylinder head, burning as it leaks from the cylinder.

2. It’s Getting Hot in Here

Coolant is there to stop your engine from overheating, by absorbing the heat generated by your engine. If you have ever run out of coolant before, you will know just how integral it is to your engine performance.

A crack in your cylinder head may result in the coolant leaking out, which is a strong, strangely sweet odor. If this is the case, there is a good chance your coolant will run out quickly, causing your engine to overheat.

3. Where There is Smoke

They say where’s there is smoke, there is fire, but in the case of excessive white or grey smoke coming from your exhaust pipe, the smoke is an indicator of a problem in your cylinder. This smoke is caused by the burning coolant, which has likely leaked from the cracked cylinder head.

4. Poor Performance

If your vehicle has been experiencing some of the above signs, but you have been ignoring them, you may find that your engine loses power and efficiency.

As mentioned above, a cracked head results in leaking coolant, which impacts the spark plugs in your engine. It may also lower the total pressure produced by the cylinder, affecting your engine’s performance.

Bonus Tip: Engine Misfires

Engine misfires may also be directly related to your cracked cylinder head, as the pressure from the cylinder escapes into another, lowering the cylinder pressure and resulting in a rough idling engine.

Why Choose Noordeman Diesel for Cracked Head Repairs

The above tips are a basic overview of the tell-tale signs associated with a cracked cylinder head, but diagnosing the extent of the damage to your engine requires a wealth of knowledge and experience.

If your vehicle is experiencing performance issues or signs of any engine issues, you can trust our team at Noordeman Diesel to sort it out.

At Noordeman Diesel, we specialise in cracked cylinder head repair and cylinder head reconditioning to keep your vehicle running at its peak.

At our workshop in Welshpool, we have a team of qualified, experienced and knowledgeable technicians, ready to assist you with any vehicle issues.

Contact Noordeman Diesel today, to discover why customers from across Perth, choose us to identify and fix their engine issues.