Cylinder Head Skimming & Pressure Testing in Birmingham
An overheated engine often comes down to one question. Can the cylinder head be saved? We pressure test it to find out, then skim it back to true on our own machines. All in-house, in our Aston workshop.
When an engine overheats, the cylinder head takes the damage. The two questions that follow are whether the head has cracked, and whether it has warped. Pressure testing and skimming answer them.
Pressure testing checks the head for cracks and porosity. The head is sealed and put under pressure so any hidden cracks or leaks show up. This tells you whether the head is sound before you spend money rebuilding it. A cracked head found early saves a lot of wasted work.
Skimming corrects warping. Heat can leave the head’s mating surface slightly distorted, which stops the head gasket sealing and leads to coolant and oil leaks, loss of compression, and repeat gasket failure. Skimming machines the surface flat again so a new gasket can seal properly.
You may need this if you have had overheating, white smoke from the exhaust, coolant loss with no visible leak, a creamy oil and water mix under the oil cap, a misfire, or a failed head gasket.
Why CR Auto Engineering
We pressure test and skim cylinder heads in our own workshop, on our own machines, as part of the wider engine work we have done for 50 years. Because it all happens here, we can look at the whole picture, the head, the gasket and the block together, and give you a straight answer quickly on whether the head is worth saving.
And if it is not, we will tell you, and talk you through whether reconditioning or replacing the engine is the better route. Either way, you get an honest verdict from the people doing the work.
If a head cannot be saved, we will tell you straight, rather than skim one that will only fail again.
What sets us apart:
- In-house machining
- Crack and pressure testing
- Based in Aston, Birmingham
- 50 years of experience
How cylinder head work is done
Every head is tested before it is machined, so we know it is worth saving before any work goes into it. Here is how it runs.
All makes, petrol and diesel
We pressure test and skim cylinder heads on all makes and models, petrol and diesel, including alloy and cast iron heads, for cars, vans, and light commercial vehicles. We handle:
- Warped heads from overheating
- Crack and porosity testing
- Alloy and cast iron heads
- Advice on repair, recondition or replace
Where the head has failed, we can advise on the next step. If you are not sure what state your head is in, that is exactly what the pressure test is for.
Get In Touch
Overheated or losing coolant?
Send us your make, model and a quick description of the symptoms, whether it is overheating, losing coolant, or you already have the head off.
Cylinder head questions, answered
A few of the things people ask most before booking a head in. If your question is not here, just call us.
Common signs are overheating, head gasket failure, white smoke, and coolant loss. The only certain way to know is to remove the head and check it. We can do that and tell you what we find.
Sometimes, depending on where the crack is and the type of head. The pressure test tells us what we are dealing with first. We will give you an honest view of whether repair is worthwhile.
There is a safe limit that varies by engine. We machine within manufacturer tolerances so the head still works correctly. If a head needs more than is safe, we will tell you.
No. You can bring the head on its own if it has already been removed, or bring the vehicle and we will handle everything.
Yes. We can supply gaskets and the related parts needed to refit the head.
Call us on 0121 448 3284 or use our contact form with your vehicle details and a description of the symptoms.