Cylinder Head Leak: New Head Gasket Fix?

Hello everyone,

'My head gasket failed at 160,000 km. However, I continued driving for about 5,000 km under partial load. This meant that my coolant was boiling at approximately 98°C, which helped to avoid high oil temperatures. The mechanics diagnosed a 'slightly warped cylinder head.' They resurfaced the head and installed a new gasket. Now, the head has been sealed for 40,000 km, and I haven't experienced any more coolant loss, even under full load.'

What do I imagine when I hear the term 'broken-in cylinder head'?

Is it necessary to avoid high pressures, for example, those caused by tuning or steep inclines, regardless of the cause?

Should I be worried now that the rain will return soon?

Thank you for your experience.

Tobias.

I have never heard this wording used in connection with a cylinder head before!

I suspect they meant that the cylinder head was slightly warped. If the warping is within the tolerance of 0.1mm, then the cylinder head gasket can compensate for it. However, with greater warping, it probably won't seal for very long.

Regards,
Alex.

Hello donalexo,

I don't think 'verzogen' was the intended word.
I interpret the word 'vezogen' (which I understand to mean 'twisted' or 'stressed') as indicating that it is being subjected to some form of strain, analogous to the stress on a car body in a turn.
As I suspect, the minimal grooves are likely caused by coolant, similar to how a Canon might be eroded by a river.
The expert explained that the syndrome likely arises from the constant movement of the cylinder head, probably due to the different thermal expansion coefficients of the materials used for the gasket and the head, which puts stress on the engine block.

I also wanted to know if, even though it's been sealed for 40,000 kilometers, he might have to expect premature damage again, unlike with a healthy engine, and whether I could postpone the problem by adopting a more conservative driving style?
It would also be interesting to know whether every cylinder head eventually wears out, and whether I triggered the problem by continuing to drive for 5000 km with the defect.

Regarding continuing to drive with a defective head gasket, I can tell you a few things.

I knew someone who drove their 5-cylinder gasoline car for a while with a blown head gasket, but only about 1000 km. After that, a hole burned through the cylinder head between cylinders 4 and 5, rendering the head scrap.

Generally, if the cylinder head gasket fails: stop immediately and try to salvage what you can. A blown head gasket isn't a major issue if you don't cause further damage as a result.

I suspect that you might also have a burned-in channel, but perhaps not so severely that it immediately required a head replacement. Did you simply not ask the workshop what they meant by it? That would be easier than a remote diagnosis through a forum.