How do I know what cylinder head I have?
Determining the type of cylinder head on your vehicle is an important step in maintaining or upgrading your engine. The cylinder head plays a crucial role in the engine's performance and efficiency, so knowing its specifications is essential. In this article, we'll guide you through the process of identifying your cylinder head.
Inspect the Cylinder Head Markings
The easiest way to identify your cylinder head is to look for any markings or casting numbers on the surface of the head. These numbers and letters can provide valuable information about the head's make, model, and specifications. Check the top, sides, and front of the cylinder head for any identifying marks.
Measure the Cylinder Head
If there are no visible markings, you can measure the cylinder head to gather more information. Measure the diameter of the cylinder bores, the overall length and width of the head, and the height of the head. These dimensions can be compared to manufacturer specifications to help determine the type of cylinder head you have.
Inspect the Valve Train
Another way to identify the cylinder head is to examine the valve train components. Look at the number, size, and arrangement of the valves, as well as the type of valve springs and rocker arms. This information can be used to cross-reference with manufacturer data to identify the specific cylinder head.
Consult a Parts Catalog or Online Resources
If you're still unsure about the cylinder head, you can consult a parts catalog or search online resources for more information. Provide the make, model, and year of your vehicle, as well as any identifying numbers or measurements you've gathered, to find the corresponding cylinder head specifications.
Accurately identifying your cylinder head is crucial for ensuring proper engine performance and compatibility with any upgrades or modifications. By following these steps, you can confidently determine the type of cylinder head on your vehicle.
How do you identify cylinder heads?
The stamping is usually located on the end of the casting above the accessory bolt area just below the valve cover rail. We have stamped some heads on the exhaust side of the head as well. The numbering system only identifies the casting model and the year the head was made.
Where is the casting number on a cylinder head?
The exhaust manifold. And you would look for the numbers the rf1 2le. And show you a real quick. Hopefully you can see this you can see the numbers right.
What are the three types of cylinder heads?
Types of Cylinder Heads
- Flathead Cylinder Head.
- Overhead Valve (OHV) Cylinder Head.
- Overhead Camshaft (OHC) Cylinder Head.
- Hemispherical (Hemi) Cylinder Head.
- Rotary Valve Cylinder Head.
- Multi-Valve Cylinder Head.
- Pentroof Cylinder Head.
- Double Overhead Camshaft (DOHC) Cylinder Head.
How can I tell if my car is a 4 cylinder or 6 cylinder?
You can tell if your car has a 4-cylinder or 6-cylinder engine by visually inspecting the engine to count spark plug wires or ignition coils (4 vs. 6), checking for a "V6" or "4-Cyl" label on the engine cover, or looking for this information in your car's paperwork like the owner's manual, registration, or title.
On the engine
- Count ignition coils/spark plug wires: Open the hood and look for the ignition coils or spark plug wires. A 4-cylinder will have four, while a 6-cylinder (often a V6) will have six. In a V6, you'll typically see three coils/wires on one side and three on the other.
- Look for an engine cover label: Many engines have a plastic cover on top with the engine size and type printed on it, such as "4-Cyl," "Inline 4," or "V6".
- Inspect exhaust headers: For some models, you can also identify the engine by counting the exhaust headers, which may be visible under the hood.
This video demonstrates how to identify the engine type by counting the spark plugs or wires: 59sHelpful DIYYouTube · Apr 3, 2021
Without looking under the hood
- Owner's manual: The most reliable method is to check the owner's manual, which will have details about your specific engine.
- Vehicle documents: Your car's registration, title, or insurance documents should list the engine type.
- Vehicle Identification Number (VIN): You can use an online VIN decoder tool to find your car's engine information. The VIN can be found on the driver's side dashboard or door jamb.
This video explains how to find engine size using the VIN number: 49sMotor MatchupsYouTube · Sep 22, 2024
