Is Removing the Cylinder Head Considered a Major Overhaul?
2 Answers
Simply removing the cylinder head to inspect the cylinder block is not considered a major overhaul. However, replacing components such as the crankshaft, connecting rods, and pistons is regarded as a major overhaul. A car's engine is not a single unit but is composed of several parts. From top to bottom, the engine consists of the valve cover, cylinder head, cylinder block, and oil pan, with sealing gaskets between these parts. Therefore, it is essential to perform regular maintenance on your car. Below is an introduction to car maintenance: 1. Introduction to Car Maintenance: Car maintenance refers to the preventive work of regularly inspecting, cleaning, supplying, lubricating, adjusting, or replacing certain parts of the car, also known as car servicing. 2. Scope of Car Maintenance: Modern car maintenance mainly includes the engine system (engine), transmission system, air conditioning system, cooling system, fuel system, power steering system, and other maintenance areas. 3. Purpose of Car Maintenance: The purpose of car maintenance is to keep the car clean, maintain normal technical conditions, eliminate potential hazards, prevent faults, slow down the deterioration process, and extend the service life.
I consider cylinder head removal as part of major engine overhaul. Think about it - dismantling this requires opening the top sealing cover of the engine, just like performing open-heart surgery. Last time I helped a friend with an old Passat, just the disassembly and reassembly took half a day, plus we had to replace valve stem seals and resurface the cylinder head. The most annoying part was recalibrating the camshaft timing afterward - we had to double-check the torque wrench settings four or five times. After repair, you still need to monitor for potential head gasket leaks, and only after driving for several days can you confirm the results. Honestly, this job requires much higher technical skills than replacing piston rings, and the labor cost alone could account for nearly half of a major engine rebuild.
