Cylinder Heads

Keeping Your Engine Running Strong With Quality Cylinder Heads

Whether you're restoring a classic or fixing your own ride, Tom Hesser Nissan always has all the parts you need. Cylinder heads are among the most important engine components your vehicle relies on. These parts manage the combustion process that powers your Altima or Maxima down the road. When cylinder heads fail, your engine performance suffers dramatically.

How Cylinder Heads Keep Your Engine Breathing

Cylinder heads sit on top of your engine block and seal the combustion chambers where fuel burns. They house valves that control air and fuel entering the cylinders, as well as exhaust gases leaving. The cylinder head also contains passages for coolant to flow through, preventing your engine from overheating. Modern Nissan cylinder heads are precision-engineered to handle extreme temperatures and pressures thousands of times per minute.

What Causes Cylinder Heads to Fail

Overheating remains the primary cause of cylinder head failure. When engines run too hot, the metal can warp or crack. This allows coolant to leak into combustion chambers or oil passages. Bad spark plugs can also damage cylinder heads through pre-ignition or detonation. Poor maintenance, low coolant levels, and worn timing components accelerate wear. Aftermarket cylinder heads often use inferior materials that crack under normal operating conditions, while genuine Nissan parts are manufactured to exact specifications.

Recognizing When Replacement Becomes Necessary

White smoke from your exhaust signals coolant burning in the combustion chambers. You might notice your engine overheating frequently or losing coolant without visible leaks. Rough idling, misfires, and reduced power indicate valve problems within the cylinder head. Oil contamination or a milky appearance on the dipstick suggests head gasket or cylinder head failure. We stock authentic Nissan cylinder heads that restore your engine to factory performance standards.

There are plenty of places to order auto parts online, but when you buy from Tom Hesser Nissan you'll know why we're the best.