Having a cracked cylinder head on your Chrysler can be a daunting experience for any car owner. While this repair is not considered one of the cheaper ones on a cost scale, it is imperative the repair is made. Here we will discuss what can cause a Chrysler’s cracked cylinder head, how to know it is damaged, and what to do about it if it happens to you.
What Is a Cylinder Head?
As with all combustion engines, cylinders are utilized to create torque in your Chrysler when the cylinders are activated. Without cylinders or the cylinder head in which they are housed and work in, your car would not be able to move.
There are a few issues that can arise in the cylinder head area, but here we will discuss what happens when you discover your Chrysler has developed a crack in it.
Causes of a Cracked Cylinder Head
A cracked cylinder head on your Chrysler will usually happen due to one main cause: overheating of the engine. When the temperature of the coolant and oil cannot cool the engine and its parts, overheating will occur.
Even a short amount of overheating can cause warping of the engine parts and cause small cracks in your cylinder head. Once these cracks have developed and no matter how small, they will grow larger over time. Here are a few reasons your cylinder head may overheat.
- Bad Thermostat: A thermostat is designed to open to allow a coolant/water mix into your engine for cooling. When the thermostat sticks in the closed position, coolant will not enter and remove the heat buildup.
- Faulty Water Pump: Your Chrysler’s water pump uses a water pump that keeps the coolant circulating in your car’s engine to keep it from overheating. If your water pump is not operating correctly, your engine will overheat
- Coolant Leak: A coolant leak anywhere in your car’s coolant system will cause an overheated cylinder head. This is not only when the coolant is low, but any leak creates pressure issues, and cracks will cause the car to overheat quickly.
- Low Oil Level: Your Chrysler engine’s moving parts all count on motor oil to reduce heat-building friction. If there is not enough oil or oil pressure to keep these cylinders and other parts lubricated, overheating will occur.
Signs Your Cylinder Head is Cracked
Once cracked, there are a few ways you will know you have a problem. Of course, it is important you do not ignore any of these signs. Ignoring these can lead to much more damage in the long term and happen more quickly than most think.
- There will be evidence of coolant leaks. When your Chrysler experiences a coolant leak, you will see the evidence underneath the car. Due to the different areas of the engine compartment that could be experiencing leaks, such as hoses, water pump, or the radiator area, coolant leaks will be visible anywhere under this entire area. Be mindful that coolant has colors added, such as pink, orange, and green, so that it is distinguishable.
- The performance of your Chrysler can certainly be affected if you have a cracked cylinder head. Compression is an important part of your engine’s performance thanks to the cylinders. Once a crack develops, compression used to make your car move will be lost.
- Oil and coolant can mix if you have a crack in your cylinder head. Any cracks or damage to the gasket between the cylinder head and the lower part of the motor can allow the two fluids to mix. Once this happens, you’ll notice your oil will appear milky colored.
Les Us Handle Your Chrysler’s Cracked Cylinder Head
If you live in the Hialeah Gardens area of Florida and experience cracks in your Chrysler’s cylinder head, contact us at Cars and Truck Engines 4 Less, your professional car and truck engine shop in Hialeah Gardens, FL. Dealing in the highest quality engine parts and replacements, our dedicated team goes all out to make sure our customers are taken care of. Give us a chance to serve you and have your Chrysler’s cracked cylinder head corrected by our experts.
