Cylinder Head Repairs

The repair shop at Thomas Machine can ably perform cylinder head repairs and do so for clients across Long Island. A cylinder head is the top end of the engine. Its function is to mate to the engine block to seal off the combustion chamber. That is where the engine burns fuel to make power.

Cylinder heads also house the valves that direct airflow. These intake valves draw in fresh air, which allows for combustion to occur. Then exhaust valves allow the burnt air fuel mixture to exit the combustion chamber. In general, an internal combustion engine is simply a fancy air pump.

A small crack in the cylinder head can go unnoticed for a long time without repair. However, for the more severe cases, those symptoms will be much more noticeable. Typically these cylinder heads can withstand a lot, but under extreme circumstances they can crack. And these cracks can cause similar symptoms to a blown head gasket or a cracked block. Though a cylinder head repair is more expensive to fix than a blown gasket head. Learn more about the symptoms leading to a cracked cylinder head.

When you deal with lesser repair shops, the solution is often to buy a new cylinder head. But that is not always the case. Bring the cylinder head down to our shop and we can try to repair it first, which will save you money. We have years of experience working in this field and can find you the proper parts, as well as work on other aspects such as flywheel services and diesel engines.

Our Services

For more information about our cylinder head repairs and other services, please reach out to us today. The number for our Deer Park office is 631-242-5665. When you call, we can go over our cylinder head repairs and provide you with a fair and accurate estimate. The cost for the cylinder head repair varies on the make and model. When we assess it, we will find the cheapest route without compromising quality.

What To Look Out For

Crack Cylinder Head Signs Indicating Repair

A small crack in the cylinder head will likely go unnoticed for quite some time. However, if the crack is more substantial then odds are you might be noticing some important signs. Let's learn about what to look out for in regards to sings for cylinder head repairs.

Poor Engine Performance

The first sign you might actually notice is poor engine performance, which means there might be a noticeable loss in engine power. If the cylinder does have a crack, it means compressed air is escaping from the combustion chamber. So you may likely notice the engine running a lot slower or awkwardly due to this.

Oil Leaks

A cylinder head has oil inside, so with a crack head then you can expect to have some oil begin to leak out. When this happens, there is a good chance you notice the oil light on your dashboard turning on indicating low oil pressure. If you notice this light on, then try opening your hood to see if there is engine oil near the cylinder head. Sometimes the oil leaks internally, which means you will not see a puddle anywhere. Instead you might see some blue smoke out of the exhaust.

Coolant Leak

Coolant leaks are also a cause of a crack head, but can also be a sign. If the cylinder is badly cracked, then chances are you will have coolant leaking out of the engine on top of the oil. Coolant leaks cause the engine to overheat, which you car will likely warn you about on the dashboard. Oftentimes, a coolant leak is internal, which means they may leak into the oil passages or the combustion chamber. Either way, it is important to check your coolant level periodically to stay on top of any issues. If there is visible coolant leaking out, do not continue to drive the vehicle.

Engine Misfire

If the crack in the cylinder head is severe enough, then the mixture in the combustion chamber will oftentimes cause a misfire. What this means is that the mixture will not burn like it normally does. It is either that or the engine will simply die as you are driving and you will have to start it back up every time. But an engine misfire is a major warning that something is wrong with your vehicle. And the team at Thomas Auto can provide affordable cylinder head repairs.

Engine Smoke

Engine smoke is rare, but big cracks in the cylinder head will allow coolant to leak into the combustion chamber and cause white smoke to come out of the engine. On top of that issue, leaking oil can make contact with the hot components in the engine that produces smoke. So, if you see engine smoke, it is a clear sign that something is very wrong and that the cylinder head may be the culprit. If that is the case, then our team can repair the cylinder head cracks and get you on your way.