Part 1
Cylinder Head
Removal
NOTICE: During engine repair procedures, cleanliness is extremely important. Any foreign material, including any material created while cleaning gasket surfaces, that enters the oil passages, coolant passages or the oil pan, can cause engine failure.
NOTE: If the components are to be reinstalled, they must be installed in their original location. Mark the components for installation into their original location.
All cylinder heads
1. Remove the engine. For additional information, refer to Engine - Manual Transmission Engine - Removal - Manual Transmission or Engine - Automatic Transmission Engine - Removal - Automatic Transmission.
2. Mount the engine on a work stand.
3. NOTE: RH shown, LH similar.
Disconnect the 4 Variable Camshaft Timing (VCT) variable force solenoid electrical connectors.
4. NOTE: RH shown, LH similar.
Disconnect the 8 ignition coil electrical connectors.
5. NOTE: RH shown, LH similar.
Detach the 9 wiring harness retainers from the RH valve cover and the 10 wiring harness retainers from the LH valve cover.
6. NOTE: When removing the ignition coils, a slight twisting motion will break the seal and ease removal. RH shown, LH similar.
Remove the 8 bolts and the 8 ignition coils.
7. NOTICE: Do not use metal scrapers, wire brushes, power abrasive discs or other abrasive means to clean the sealing surfaces. These tools cause scratches and gouges which make leak paths. Use a plastic scraping tool to remove all traces of old sealant.
Loosen the 14 bolts and remove the RH valve cover and gasket.
- Clean the valve cover mating surface of the cylinder head with silicone gasket remover and metal surface prep. Follow the directions on the packaging.
- Discard the valve cover gasket. Clean the valve cover gasket groove with soap and water or a suitable solvent.
8. Remove the oil level indicator.
9. NOTICE: Do not use metal scrapers, wire brushes, power abrasive discs or other abrasive means to clean the sealing surfaces. These tools cause scratches and gouges which make leak paths. Use a plastic scraping tool to remove all traces of old sealant.
Loosen the 14 bolts and remove the LH valve cover and gasket.
- Clean the valve cover mating surface of the cylinder head with silicone gasket remover and metal surface prep. Follow the directions on the packaging.
- Discard the valve cover gasket. Clean the valve cover gasket groove with soap and water or a suitable solvent.
10. NOTE: RH shown, LH similar.
Inspect the 2 VCT variable force solenoid seals. Remove any damaged seals.
- Using the Differential Bearing Cone Installer and Handle, remove the seal(s).
11. NOTE: RH shown, LH similar.
Inspect the spark plug tube seals. Remove any damaged seals.
- Using the VCT Spark Plug Tube Seal Remover and Handle, remove the seal(s).
12. Remove the 4 bolts and the coolant pump pulley.
13. Remove the 4 bolts and the coolant pump.
- Remove and discard the O-ring seal.
14. Detach the 3 wiring harness retainers (2 shown) from the engine front cover and stud bolts.
15. Remove the bolt and the accessory drive belt tensioner.
16. Remove the nut, the bolt and the generator.
17. Remove the crankshaft pulley bolt and washer.
18. Using the 3 Jaw Puller and the crankshaft pulley bolt, remove the crankshaft pulley.
- Discard the crankshaft pulley bolt.
19. NOTICE: Use care not to damage the engine front cover or the crankshaft when removing the seal.
Using the Oil Seal Remover, remove the crankshaft front oil seal.
20. Remove the 2 front oil pan stud bolts and 2 front oil pan bolts.
21. Remove the 13 engine front cover bolts and the 2 stud bolts.
22. NOTICE: Do not use metal scrapers, wire brushes, power abrasive discs or other abrasive means to clean the sealing surfaces. These tools cause scratches and gouges which make leak paths. Use a plastic scraping tool to remove all traces of old sealant.
Remove the engine front cover from the front cover to cylinder block dowel.
- Remove and discard the engine front cover gaskets.
- Clean the mating surfaces with silicone gasket remover and metal surface prep. Follow the directions on the packaging.
- Inspect the mating surfaces.
23. Using the crankshaft holding tool, rotate the crankshaft clockwise until the keyway is at the 12 o'clock position.
24. Verify the data matrix on the camshafts is facing up, if not, rotate the crankshaft clockwise one revolution.
25. Remove the 2 bolts and the RH primary timing chain tensioner.
26. NOTE: It may be necessary to rotate the crankshaft slightly to provide enough slack in the chain to remove the RH timing chain tensioner arm. Return the crankshaft keyway to the 12 o'clock position after removing the RH timing chain tensioner arm.
Remove the RH timing chain tensioner arm.
27. NOTE: It may be necessary to rotate the crankshaft slightly to provide enough slack in the chain to remove the RH timing chain guide. Return the crankshaft keyway to the 12 o'clock position after removing the RH timing chain guide.
Remove the bolt and the RH timing chain guide.
28. Remove the RH primary timing chain.
RH cylinder head
29. Remove the bolt and the coolant outlet pipe from the RH cylinder head.
- Remove and discard the O-ring seal.
30. Disconnect the RH intake and exhaust Camshaft Position (CMP) sensor electrical connectors.
- Remove the 2 bolts and the RH intake and exhaust CMP sensors.
31. Disconnect the Cylinder Head Temperature (CHT) sensor electrical connector.
32. Remove the CHT sensor.
33. Remove the 8 nuts and the RH exhaust manifold.
- Discard the gasket.
34. Clean and inspect the RH exhaust manifold. For additional information, refer to Engine System - General Information Exhaust Manifold Cleaning and Inspection.
35. Remove and discard the 8 RH exhaust manifold studs.
36. Remove the 3 RH intake Variable Camshaft Timing (VCT) assembly bolts and the 3 RH exhaust VCT assembly bolts.
37. Slide the RH VCT assemblies and secondary timing chain forward 2 mm (0.078 in).
38. Depress the RH secondary timing chain tensioner and turn the tensioner 90 degrees.
39. Remove the RH VCT assemblies and the RH secondary timing chain.
40. NOTICE: The front camshaft bearing mega cap must be removed first and then the remaining camshaft bearing caps. Failure to follow this direction may result in damage to the engine.
Remove the 4 bolts and the RH front camshaft bearing mega cap.
41. Remove the 16 bolts and the 8 camshaft bearing caps.
42. NOTE: Intake camshaft shown, exhaust camshaft similar.
Remove the VCT system oil filter from the intake and exhaust camshafts.
43. Remove the RH intake and exhaust camshafts.
44. Remove the 16 camshaft roller follower and hydraulic lash adjuster assemblies.
45. NOTICE: The cylinder head must be cool before removing it from the engine. Cylinder head warpage can result if a warm or hot cylinder head is removed.
NOTICE: Place clean shop towels over exposed engine cavities. Carefully remove the towels so foreign material is not dropped into the engine.
NOTICE: The cylinder head bolts must be discarded and new bolts must be installed. They are a tighten-to-yield design and cannot be reused.
NOTICE: Do not use metal scrapers, wire brushes, power abrasive discs or other abrasive means to clean the sealing surfaces. These tools cause scratches and gouges that make leak paths. Use a plastic scraping tool to remove all traces of the head gasket.
NOTICE: Aluminum surfaces are soft and can be scratched easily. Never place the cylinder head gasket surface, unprotected, on a bench surface.
Remove the 10 bolts and the RH cylinder head.
- Discard the bolts and the cylinder head gasket.
46. NOTICE: Do not use metal scrapers, wire brushes, power abrasive discs or other abrasive means to clean the sealing surfaces. These tools cause scratches and gouges that make leak paths. Use a plastic scraping tool to remove all traces of the head gasket.
NOTE: Observe all warnings or notices and follow all application directions contained on the packaging of the silicone gasket remover and the metal surface prep.
NOTE: If there is no residual gasket material present, metal surface prep can be used to clean and prepare the surfaces.
Clean the cylinder head-to-cylinder block mating surfaces of both the cylinder head and the cylinder block in the following sequence.
1. Remove any large deposits of silicone or gasket material with a plastic scraper.
2. Apply silicone gasket remover, following package directions and allow to set for several minutes.
3. Remove the silicone gasket remover with a plastic scraper. A second application of silicone gasket remover may be required if residual traces of silicone or gasket material remain.
4. Apply metal surface prep, following package directions, to remove any remaining traces of oil or coolant and to prepare the surfaces to bond with the new gasket. Do not attempt to make the metal shiny. Some staining of the metal surfaces is normal.
47. NOTE: Make sure all cylinder head surfaces are clear of any gasket material, RTV, oil and coolant. The cylinder head surface must be clean and dry before running a flatness check.
NOTE: Use a straightedge that is calibrated by the manufacturer to be flat within 0.005 mm (0.0002 in) per running foot length. For example, if the straightedge is 61 cm (24 in) long, the machined edge must be flat within 0.010 mm (0.0004 in) from end to end.
Support the cylinder head on a bench with the head gasket side up. Check the cylinder head distortion and the cylinder block distortion, paying particular attention to the oil pressure feed area. For additional information, refer to Engine System - General Information Cylinder Head Distortion.
