What is the function of a cylinder head gasket?

[FaithAnn]

The function of a cylinder head gasket is to ensure a good seal between the cylinder block and the cylinder head, thereby maintaining the sealing of the combustion chamber and preventing gas leakage from the cylinder and coolant leakage from the water jacket. The cylinder head gasket is a sealing component placed between the top surface of the engine block and the bottom surface of the cylinder head. It ensures that the combustion chamber remains sealed to prevent gas leakage and that the coolant and engine oil flowing from the engine block to the cylinder head do not leak. During engine operation, the temperature inside the cylinder is very high, and both the engine oil and coolant have certain corrosive properties. Therefore, the cylinder head gasket must possess heat resistance and corrosion resistance. There are tiny gaps between the cylinder block and the cylinder head, and the top surface of the engine block and the bottom surface of the cylinder head have certain roughness and unevenness. Additionally, the cylinder head may deform under stress during engine operation. Hence, the cylinder head gasket must not only have sufficient strength, pressure resistance, heat resistance, and corrosion resistance but also a certain degree of elasticity.