Before we can go over the most common reasons that head gaskets fail, we need to know what a head gasket is and what role it plays in the proper operation of your vehicle. In an internal combustion engine, the head gasket is a gasket that sits between the engine block and the cylinder head. Its primary role is to seal the cylinders from oil or coolant leaking into the cylinders, and to make sure that the engine maintains proper compression. Therefore, its role in you car’s engine is critical to the proper combustion of gasoline. Now that we know what a head gasket does, we can now explore the reasons that they fail. There are numerous reasons for the failure of the head gasket, but some reasons are more prevalent than others.

Poor Installation of the Head Gasket

A likely culprit for the failure of the head gasket is poor installation. The head gasket is held securely to the engine block by its head bolts. If these bolt are not tightened down correctly, then the head gasket will not have the seal that it needs to operate properly. Another thing that should be considered is that the gasket may have been installed with the wrong type of sealant applied to it. It is quite possible that the wrong type of sealant can cause a chemical reaction to occur on the gasket, thus speeding up its deterioration. This is especially true when the head gasket is composed of a composite material such as graphite.

Spark Knocking or Spark Plug Misfires

The functioning of your engine can have a dramatic impact on the head gasket. A primary cause for head gasket failure is a spark plug knock. This is caused when the fuel in the cylinder is ignited too soon by the spark plug. This makes the engine sound like it has a bunch of loose marbles banging on its interior. A spark plug knock is usually caused by a malfunctioning EGR valve, but other factors such as a fuel/air mixture that is too lean can cause this problem as well.

A spark plug misfire, also caused a detonation, occurs when the gasoline in the cylinder is ignited by something other then the spark plug. This condition can occur if there are hot-spots in the chamber that ignite the fuel before the spark plug has a chance to do its job. Usually this condition can be caused by an engine that has too high of a compression, but there are other culprits as well. It can be caused by using cheap gasoline or gasoline that is the wrong octane, by using the wrong type of spark plugs, or the failure of the EGR valve.

Overheating of the Engine

The main reason that a head gasket fails is overheating of the engine. When an engine is allowed to overheat, then the engine block and the head gasket expands. While both the head gasket and the engine is designed to resist some increases in temperature, a rapid increase in temperature can cause the head gasket to fail. This is usually caused by the failure of a thermostat or one of the radiator hoses. Failure to replace one of these inexpensive parts can lead to a repair that cost thousands of dollars.

Timing belts tend to begin breaking down at around 60,000 miles. You will notice the power to your vehicle begin to slow down, the fuel efficiency of your vehicle can be affected as well as your vehicle showing signs of working harder.

How To Change A Timing Belt or Timing Chain
Different vehicles have different patterns for changing a timing belt or timing chain. The best thing to do when you want to change the timing belt is to look over your owner’s manual that is specific for your make and model vehicle. You can also purchase an automobile repair manual that is designed specifically for the needs of your automobile at any automotive repair shop in your local area.

The basics to changing a timing belt on the vehicle however are pretty much uniform. The steps to do this are as follows:

Step 1. Before you can replace the timing belt on any vehicle it is a good idea to let the vehicle sit overnight so that the engine is completely cool and there is a reduced chance of experiencing serious burns from the engine.

Step 2. As it is with most vehicle repairs you must first disconnect any power supply to the vehicle. This means that the battery cables must be removed from the battery terminal and tied back so that there is no risk of them touching the posts or other parts of the vehicle while working.

Step 3. Place blocks in front and behind the wheels of your vehicle so that there is not chance of the vehicle rolling and accidentally causing injuries to you or others who may be around.

You will now need to remove any obstructions that may be in the way of getting to your timing belt. This includes:

Step 4. Make sure that the air intake assembly to your vehicle is completely removed.

Step 5. Locate the pulley that powers the supply to your water pump if this is in the way on your vehicle. You will need to loosen the bolt holding this pulley in place.

Step 6. For some vehicles it may be necessary to do the same for other equipment such as the power steering pump. This will require you to loosen the bolt and remove the belt that is around the pulley. You can then unbolt the power steering pump and move it out of your way.

Step 7. Line up the mark on your crankshaft pulley to the O that is on the timing scale with a large wrench. You can find the timing scale molded on your vehicle engine block.

Step 8. Using the right sized socket you will have to removed the bolts that are holding the timing belt cover on. When you have the bolts removed you can then pull off the timing belt cover.

Step 9. Inspect the timing belt tensioned bearings for any looseness or noise. If these problems exist you will need to replace the timing belt tensioned bearings as well.

Step 10. Locate your camshaft and check to makes sure there are no leaks in the crankshaft or camshaft seals. If you do notice leaking this could be an early sign that there will be premature failure for your new timing belt. It is best to replace these seals now instead of waiting for bigger problems and the chance of having to do all of this work again.

Step 11. For most vehicle makes and models you should now be able to locate the timing belt. Make sure that all timing marks on your belt are properly lined up. Loosen the timing belt tensioned and you will then be able to remove the timing belt very easily. Make sure that the camshaft and crankshaft for your vehicle’s engine are secured and that they do not move while your timing belt is off of your vehicle.

Step 12. Place your new timing belt on the same way that you removed it. Make any tension adjustments to the timing belt as necessary. Inspect the new belt to make sure that it is fitting over the teeth for the timing sprockets correctly. Makes sure that you do not over tighten the belt.

Step 13. When replacing the timing belt cover install a new gasket to seal the cover correctly. Do not use an old gasket as this will not seal properly.

Step 14. If you had to remove any pumps at the beginning of this project you will now have to hook them back up again. This includes the water pump, power steering pump as well as any other accessories that may have gotten in the way at the beginning of this project.

Step 15. Visually inspect all timing marks to make sure that they are still aligned correctly.

Step 16. Reinstall your vehicle’s air intake assembly that was removed in the beginning.

Step 17. Reconnect your vehicle’s battery. Make sure that there is no corrosion around the posts or the battery cables while you are at this step.

Step 18. Turn on your vehicle and look for any problem areas such as leaks that there may be prior to driving your vehicle. Do not hesitate or postpone any repairs that may be needed.

For the past several years, PDR was unheard of by general consumers. It was generally used by rental agencies, auctions and car dealers to prepare their vehicles for resale. Because the process does not require sanding, body filler or painting, it is a process that is relatively inexpensive and very effective.

How it Works
There are specialized tools that are capable of going behind the dent to push the metal back into its original shape. Through the years the tools used in paintless dent repair have become more advanced. Usually, PDR is used on smaller dents, but recently, it has become possible to repair dents the size of a football!

There are many advantages to fixing a dent using paintless dent repair. Rather than paying for an expensive body repair, PDR is relatively simple work and doesn’t require very much time to accomplish. That in mind, it can be repaired on the same day it is brought to a shop. Another positive aspect about repairing a blemish on a vehicle using paintless dent repair, is knowing that your vehicle won’t be subjected to any repainting. Although that may not sound like something to worry over, it can be. Repainting a vehicle faces risks such as painting the wrong color, or accidental paint over spray onto other parts of the vehicle.

Unfortunately, paintless dent repair cannot solve all dent problems. For example, it doesn’t work if it is too close to the edge of a panel on a vehicle. Besides that, if the panel has had other body repair work done on it, it won’t be able to solve the problem very effectively. For people with antique cars, a small dent can’t be fixed using paintless dent repair because it generally only works for cars modeled after 1990. Although there are still some scenarios that cannot be easily fixed using PDR, it is one of the preferred ways to solve many automobile dents.

Who Uses Paintless Dent Repair, and Who To Trust
Because major auto dealers require vehicles that look nice before they are likely to be sold, they know who can provide a quality PDR job. For the saftey of their business, most major car dealerships that have used cars or trucks have a place they take vehicles that need body work done at an affordable cost. Along with them, companies that place cars in auctions also know the trustworthy companies that can properly do paintless dent repair and removal. When the choice is made to use PDR on a vehicle, it is very important to know that the vehicle will be in the hands of a trusted, reliable source.

To ensure a quality job…
1. Investigate general prices and possible prospects for PDR in your area, then talk to a few auto dealerships and get any suggestions. Anyone that they would choose to use for a long period of time must do a quality job, or they would lose their customers.
2. Investigate further by asking for references from the place you choose to try. PDR is very effective, but it needs to be done correctly. In a conversational manner, ask when and how they learned how to do Paintless dent repair.
3. Take into account the size of the dent, and the experience that the mechanic has had. Then, make the decision with the knowledge that everything was thought through carefully.

Paintless dent repair is one of the best new technologies in repairing vehicles, however it is important to remember that just like every other type of repair, it must be done right.

The basic tools you’ll need will be: a wrench set, a socket set, a hammer, a Johnson bar, a spring compressor, jaw pullers, a torque wrench, and your car’s torque specifications. Make sure the tools and equipment are the correct ones before you get started, no improvising. The last thing you want is to get injured, inadvertently hurt the performance of your car, or create an unsafe driving experience because you decided to take the easy way out. The job is also gonna require a car jack, which you can either rent or buy. Now, once you have everything you need, we can move forward to the actual fun part:

1. First off, raise the car on the jack as if you were going to change the tires and make sure it’s safely supported.

2. Next, remove the wheel corresponding to the strut you’re changing.

3. Remove the end-link of the strut, replace if necessary. Also, remove any brackets or wire clips that may be on the strut.

4. If the tie rod is attached to the strut, you will need to remove that with a jaw puller.

5. Loosen the strut-knuckle bolts on the strut to remove the brake caliper. In some vehicles, you may need to remove another part, such as the rotor, to be able to loosen the bolts.

6. Remove only the upper and lower nuts and bolts! NOT the center. Once you do this, the strut assembly will come loose and you can remove it.

7. After using the spring compressor to remove pressure off the upper strut mount, remove the shaft nut with a wrench or socket. You should now be able to remove the strut.

8. Evaluate your struts. Check to see what needs to be replaced and what you can use again.

9. Replace all the parts that need replacing on the strut and save all the parts you will transfer.

10. Using torque specifications, torque the shaft nut onto the new strut.

11. Lastly, reinstall everything in the corresponding order from removal. Double check everything and do the same for the next 3 struts.

Remember that struts always need to be replaced in pairs for safety reasons, to avoid an off-balanced driving experience. If there are any strange bolts or fasteners that you don’t have the tools for on the top or bottom of the strut, you can spray these with penetrating fluid to loosen them up a bit before starting. It’s better to be organized to avoid losing any important parts or pieces. After you have finished replacing the struts, you should always get an alignment check to make sure the strut changing was a success. Anyone can change struts if they have the right tools and equipment as well as the knowledge to do so. However, if you find yourself in some trouble, you can always get professional help from your local mechanic to avoid doing anything catastrophic.

Five Ways To Keep Your Car’s Battery In Great Shape

1) Park in a garage during the winter. Your battery is a piece of chemical equipment and is affected by the temperature. If the battery is subjected to cold temperatures for too long, it can be damaged and not last as long or provide power as consistently as you might like. The garage doesn’t have to be heated – all you need is some semi-decent insulation. In fact, a heated garage might be counterproductive to the rest of your car, as it can cause the metal to rust or the paint to flake.

2) Clean battery regularly. In order to do this, you need to remove the cable clamps and loosen the battery holder, then remove the battery from your vehicle. Chances are, it’s caked in rust, battery fluid, dried grease and dirt. All of these things negatively affect the connection between your battery and the rest of your car, so if you want to get the most out of your car battery maintenance, you need to clean it off. First, scrub the top of the battery using baking soda and water, then use the same solution to clean the cable clamps until they’re shining. A circular #535 brass brush is the best tool for this job, but any wire brush will do the trick. Once you’re done, reattach the battery, then re-apply grease to the connection between the clamps and the battery.

3) Make sure the battery is insulated and secured. Shake the battery a little bit – if it moves, it’s not secure enough. Tighten the bolts connecting the battery to the frame of the engine and to the cable clamps until the battery doesn’t move at all. Because a battery contains a lot of sensitive chemicals, you definitely don’t want any of those to spill into the rest of the engine. As far as insulation is concerned, you can purchase battery insulation (it looks a lot like padded tin foil), then wrap the battery in it. This keeps the battery safe from the elements, and is a great idea if you are unable to park your car inside during the winter.

4) Add distilled water (only for non-maintenance-free batteries). For batteries that don’t maintain themselves, simply add distilled water every three months or so. Check the water level monthly during the summer months, as heat makes water evaporate faster. Make sure it’s distilled water! Tap water will ruin your battery. To do this, simply remove the vent cap from the battery, and then pour water in until it’s just below the bottom (not the lip) of the cell inspection hole. Do not overfill! It is crucial that you keep your car’s battery water levels high; otherwise you could be on the hook for a large mechanic bill.

5) Purchase a solar charger for your car battery. Nobody wants to be stuck with a dead battery, in need of a jump start. This isn’t so much a battery maintenance tip as it is a life maintenance tip that has to do with your car battery. If your battery runs out, you can simply connect the solar charger to the battery, and you’ll have enough juice to get you home at least. Solar chargers are quite inexpensive these days, and perfect for the average consumer who wants to keep his battery in tip-top shape.

Whether you’re a car enthusiast or a total novice newbie, it’s important to make sure that your car is in good condition. The battery is one of the most important parts of your car, so don’t skimp on its maintenance! Make sure you take good care of it.