The operation of a domestic car has its advantages and disadvantages. The first include the cheap cost of spare parts, their availability in the Russian market, and ease of maintenance. But on the other hand, these same details are characterized by their short life span. Therefore, replacing the cylinder head gasket (VAZ) is a common activity for every motorist. And today we’ll talk about why this spare part is needed and when it needs to be replaced.
What is it and what is it for?
The cylinder head gasket (cylinder head ) performs the function of sealing the place where the engine block is connected to the head. This spare part is interconnected immediately with three components: it is a gas distribution system, oil and cooling. Therefore, despite its low cost, the cylinder head gasket must change in a timely manner and meet all modern quality requirements. Otherwise, one of the 3 (and possibly several) systems will break down. It is also worth noting that the gasket of the lid and the head of the block are two different things that, although they perform similar functions, are placed differently.
When can I make a replacement?
The cylinder head gasket may lose its function at any time, and each new part will not have the same service life, even if these parts are manufactured at the same factory. Therefore, counting the remaining kilometers on the instrument panel is simply impractical. In order to determine the current state of the cylinder head gasket, you need to know certain signs that indicate a malfunction or loss of function of this spare part. So, let's look at the main factors by which it can be determined that this part has become unusable.
- First of all, you will notice a leak of coolant or engine oil at the gasket mounting location.
- White smoke. This symptom indicates that the machine has a malfunction in the cooling system. Similarly, you can notice the presence of a white emulsion on the dipstick to check the oil. And in order to eliminate these problems, you just need to replace the gasket.
- Oil stains of unknown origin appear on the expansion tank . They can get there only through a malfunction in the cooling system.
- Bubbles appear in the same tank or in the radiator. They fall due to a malfunctioning cylinder head gasket.
Thanks to this knowledge, you will be able to determine the exact cause of the failure and repair the fault in time.
Useful advice to Russian motorists
In order to timely replace this part, many owners of domestic VAZs acquire a spare gasket. This action allows you to repair your "iron friend" on time and without any nerves, especially since this spare part is not so expensive. Especially important is the replacement cylinder head gasket for lovers of long trips and travel, because not in every village you can buy high-quality spare parts for your car model at an affordable price.