How to Determine if the Heads Are Cracked on a Motor
A crack in the cylinder head can lead to extensive engine problems. Various issues can result from a cracked cylinder head -- usually coolant, oil and vacuum leaks. Diagnosing these issues immediately is necessary to ensure the continued performance of your engine. Many of the issues stemming from a cracked cylinder head will activate the "check engine" light on the dashboard. This allows for easy diagnostic via an engine control unit (ECU) code reader.
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Instructions
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Check the dashboard of your vehicle to see if the "check engine" light is illuminated. If so, plug a diagnostic reader into the ECU access port. This port is most often located underneath the interior dashboard area. Once plugged in, the diagnostic reader will give you a list of all the error codes recorded by the ECU, as well as a brief description of the malfunction.
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Check the diagnostic error codes for issues originating in the cylinder head. These issues may include low coolant, overheating, low oil pressure and vacuum pressure leaks. In the case of cylinder head cracks, these issues stem from the fact that motor oil and coolant is able to leak through the cracks into the engine cylinders.
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Ensure the engine is cooled down entirely. Then open the hood, and visually inspect the cylinder heads and surrounding engine area for signs of fluid buildup. Severe cracks may lead to external leakage of motor oil and coolant, so spotting a fluid buildup on or around the cylinder heads is an indication that a crack has formed.
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Clean the exterior of the cylinder heads with a degreaser solution, and wipe them clean. Carefully inspect the cylinder heads for any visual signs of cracking. Due to dirt and debris buildup, cracks are hard to spot when the engine is dirty. However, once cleaned, it is possible to locate external cracks through careful inspection.
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Look for the presence of white smoke emitting from the exhaust when the engine is under acceleration. White smoke generally indicates that coolant is being combusted in the engine cylinders, which could be caused by a cracked cylinder head.
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Tips & Warnings
If you do not have an ECU diagnostic reader, many automotive supply stores provide free ECU code-reading services.
