Basics of Replacing a Head Gasket
A head gasket is part of a car engine's cylinder. It ensures that engine oil and antifreeze do not enter the combustion chamber. If you notice white smoke from your exhaust pipe, then it might be due to water that is entering the combustion chamber. Black smoke indicates that the oil is entering the combustion chamber. Replacing a head gasket can be challenging, but you can change it and save you some money. The following steps should help you successfully change your head gasket without any difficulty.
First of all, you have to remove the distributor if it enters the engine through the manifold intake. The distributor is held in place by a single bolt located underneath the distributor, which you can remove using a wrench. After you have removed the bolt, pull the distributor straight up and remove it.
Secondly, remove the intake manifold by withdrawing each of the bolts that holds it in place, using a wrench take out all the retaining bolts. Using a pry bar free the manifold from the top of the engine. Disconnect the exhaust manifold from the side of the cylinder head. The exhaust manifold is attached to the cylinder head with several bolts which you can remove using a wrench.
Remove all the bolts holding the valve cover to the top of the cylinder head to get to the rocker arms. Remove the nuts that hold the rocker arms using a wrench, then lift away each of the rocker arms and push the rod away. After, remove the cylinder's head retaining bolts, then gently lift off the head off the engine.
Using a gasket scraper,clean the bottom surface of the cylinder head as well as its mating surfaceon the engine. Place a new cylinder head gasket onto the engine, then slowly lower the cylinder head onto the gasket. Avoid using a gasket sealer on the head gasket. You should insert each cylinder head bolt through the head and into the engine, tighten each bolt in small increments using a torque wrench until you get the right fitting position as specified by the engine's manual.
Slowly slide each push rod into position through the cylinder head followed by the rocker arms. Tighten each rocker arm using the retaining nut using a torque wrench to the proper fitting position as specified by the engine's specifications manual.
Put back the valve cover and intake manifold with new gaskets that are coated with a gasket sealer. Then put back the exhaust manifold to the cylinder head with a new exhaust manifold gasket. Don't coat the exhaust manifold with a gasket sealer. You should be able to replace you head gasket using the above simple steps mentioned in this article.
