There are few more important and time-consuming jobs within the realm of automotive repair than replacing the Kia head gasket replacement. If you own a Kia vehicle and you want to do every steps of your vehicle’s repair processes, this article is for you because we are going to discuss about everything you should know about Kia head gasket replacement.
This process requires not only intimate knowledge of the engine found within your vehicle but also the proper tools and meticulous attention to detail.
The ramifications of a poor job can be huge on the life expectancy and performance of your vehicle. head gasket is the seal between the engine block and cylinder heads and In the case of its failure, the outcome may be worsened: there could be severe damage to an engine, major repair bills, and even an unmoving car if left unchecked.
Also read: Can I Drive with a Bad Head Gasket?
Head gasket replacement is a process that should be well known to a veteran mechanic or a car enthusiast who wants to become a seasoned member in the DIY field.
This process absolutely has to be done correctly, from diagnosing the problem and deciding a new gasket is the proper solution to disassembling the engine carefully, cleaning and preparing the surfaces, checking for warpage and remediating it where necessary, and of course, installation of the new gasket and reassembly of the engine. Each step has got to be handled with great precision for one to end up with a successful repair.
Diagnosing a Blown Head Gasket
Replacing a head gasket process begins with diagnosing the problem. A blown head gasket has different symptoms, which, when identified early, can save an engine from further damage.
Some of the more common include engine overheating when the coolant leaks into the combustion chamber or oil system, leading to a loss of coolant without an obvious leak.
Another sign may be white exhaust fumes coming out of the tailpipe due to the burning of the coolant in the engine. Also, milkiness or frothiness of the oil can be an indication that the coolant has mixed with oil. This is a dangerous situation that can have serious damage to engine internals.
Read more: How to diagnose a blown head gasket?
So the common indicators are:
- Overheating of engine
- White smoke from the exhaust
- Loss of coolant with no visible leaks
- Oil milky or frothy in color
This can be established using diagnostic tools, such as a compression tester or a leak-down tester. These devices indicate how taut the head gasket may be through measurements of the compression in the engine and identification of pressure loss in the cylinders. High loss of compression, or bubbles in the coolant during such tests, will tip off one to a blown head gasket.
Replacement Assessment Need Upon diagnosing a blown head gasket, the second thing that follows and is most imperative is determining the required relevance of the replacement of the gasket with respect to the time, effort, and money to be input.
Such a decision has to be taken after putting into consideration the general condition of the vehicle, age, mileage, and whether other underlying issues may complicate the repair process and In the case of an older vehicle, or one with quite a high number of miles on the clock, it could be a question of whether the expense involved in repair is more than the worth of the vehicle or if it might be more cost-effective to replace the entire engine or car.
So, you should choose to replace one of these:
- Evaluate Fit: Weigh if replacing the head gasket is worth the time and money relative to the state of the car.
- Consult repair resources: Find professional service data for your vehicle to ensure correct evaluation.
At this point, be sure to refer to professional service data specifically for your vehicle. This will provide the specification, any torque settings, and special procedures that must be followed in making the repair. If you skip the step or use information that is not correct, improper repair may result in further damage, and more cost in the future.
Engine Teardown and Preparation
Assuming the decision to proceed has been made, the next phase of the process involves disassembling the engine. This is a time- and space-consuming operation because you’re going to take out several critical components in order to get to the cylinder head and the gasket itself. Three tools important for this stage of the work are: a torque wrench with angle measuring facility; a die grinder with appropriate abrasives; a machinist’s straight edge and feeler gauges.
So, you should have these tools:
- Torque wrench with angle measurement
- Die grinder and abrasives (white Roloc discs, red Scotch Brite pads)
- Machinist straight
Begin by removing the intake, then the exhaust manifold if attached to the cylinder head, and then you can remove the valve covers to the cylinder head, so you will see the cylinder head bolts.
Warping the head even worse or causing more damage is possible if you don’t follow the cylinder head manufacturer’s recommended bolt removal sequence. Be sure to mark the layout of the components as you’re dismantling. This will facilitate an easier reinstallation process.
So you should remove items such as:
- Intake and exhaust manifolds
- Valve covers
- Cylinder head bolts – in the right order to prevent breakages end
Once this is done, the cylinder head can be removed. From here, the head and deck surfaces need to be cleaned. This is done because any old gasket material, oil, etc left behind on the deck or head surface will prevent the new gasket from making a good seal therefore resulting in leakage or even gasket failure. A die grinder can be carefully used with white Roloc discs or red Scotch Brite pads to clean off all traces of the old gasket; it needs to be ensured that this is done without gouging or scratching the surfaces.
Clean Heads and Decks
Clean surfaces by painstakingly removing the old gasket material with a die grinder and proper pads.
The deck should be scoured for foreign materials because allowable contamination will not support a positive gasket seal.
The next operation after cleaning is to inspect for warpage in the cylinder head and the engine block deck; the head gasket receives a tremendous amount of heat and pressure, thus warpage can take place. Recommended flatness is. Place the machinist’s straight edge across the cylinder head and engine block.
- Use Feeler Gauges to check the Gap
- Measuring with feeler gauges
The slide one of those several positions between the cylinder head and engine block. A professional can then resurface the cylinder head if it is over the manufacture’s value, besides gaps serve as indicators of warping and the surfaces require flatness or leaking may occur sometime later and you should consider these:
- Resurfacing is a machining process to bring the face of the cylinder head back to flatness so that, together with the installation of the new gasket, a seal can be made. But resurfacing the cylinder head actually changes its dimensions, which can affect the compression ratio of the engine, and sometimes the valve clearance. This will, therefore, necessitate further setting or fitting in of shims in other cases.
- Check for the Need of Resurfacing. If warpage is more than what the manufacturer permits, resurface the head.
- Effects to Consider on Resurfacing. Resurfacing may change dimensions on the head as it pertains to compression and clearances.
Reassembly and Final Checks after Kia head gasket replacment
The cylinder head was cleaned, checked, and properly resurfaced if necessary and now the cylinder head can be reassembled.
As important as the disassembly stage was, this reassembly must be attended to with equal care in order for the repair to be successful. The new head gasket can be laid in place on the engine block and It must be properly oriented without the correct manufacturer’s dimension alignment.
Then, set the cylinder head onto the block and begin installing the head bolts. It is crucial to use the proper sequence indicated by the manufacturer in foot-pounds of torque. Thread the bolts in sequence and to the proper torque with a torque wrench, so that they are equally tight on the gasket and hence not leaked.
Also read about Head gasket leaking oil
After assembly again, a final check is very important before the engine starts. Make sure to check properly if everything like the intake and exhaust manifolds, valve covers, and all other parts, which had been removed, are replaced in the proper position and their tightness. Further, one should check again that all the hoses and connectors have been properly connected, and the oil and the coolant level of the engine are not laying low
So in summary, reassembly of the Engine after kia head gasket replacement contain these steps:
- Fit New Head Gasket
- Follow Torque Specifications
The new gasket is fitted exactly according to manufacturer’s specification. Tighten the cylinder head bolts to specifications, with a manufacturer-specified torque wrench, and in an order, as specified by the manufacturer.
Once everything is done, now is the time for you to crank the engine and observe the engine for any leakages and abnormal noise. Let the engine get to its working temperature, and check all fluid levels once more. Replenish any fluids required. If the engine starts correctly and there is nothing wrong with it, you have replaced the head gasket
So for starting the engine you should:
- Go for One Last Inspection: Check all the installed parts if they are well attached.
- Run the Engine: Monitor for leakages and unusual sound. Run the engine to its working heat, and check the fluid levels.
Conclusion
In this article we discuss about DIY Kia Head gasket replacement is a critical and labor-intensive work that takes deep skills in automobile repair work and a very cautious method of implementation to get success.
Every action, from inspection to the reassembling of the engine, must be done cautiously and strictly. It is hard to do, with your kind of difficulty, but your reward will be a well-working engine, for sure, in years to come. If in the course of work, you experience difficult moments or are doubtful on what to do next, it is quite reasonably sure you can ask the professional mechanics.
