Replacing the cylinder head gasket on a Chevrolet Niva with your own hands

In what cases is it necessary to change the cylinder head gasket on a Niva?

In principle, the element of the main cylinder block in question does not have a certain resource, that is, the gasket is replaced when it is damaged, which, however, usually occurs after 60,000 or 80,000 km. A breakdown is indicated by:

air entering the antifreeze circulation system;
lack of operating pressure in the combustion chamber of the air-fuel mixture;
the presence of coolant in the lubricant or, conversely, the latter in the antifreeze (an oil film appears in the expansion tank).

All these problems lead to unstable operation of the Chevrolet engine.

In these situations, the gasket must be replaced immediately.

Purpose of the block head

This device is intended in the design of gasoline engines to perform the following functions:

Supplying hot mixture to the cylinders;
Exhaust gas removal;
The gas distribution mechanisms are being based;
Production of a chamber in which the combustible mixture is burned and compacted;
Implementation of dynamic charge characteristics;
Supply and drainage of oil, which is intended for the normal functioning of the timing mechanism.

An important function is also to ensure that the vehicle meets environmental standards and the emission characteristics of hazardous substances. Thus, from the purpose of the cylinder head it is clear that this element is indispensable in the operation of the engine, and therefore the car as a whole.

What does the device consist of?

Having found out the irreplaceability of this device, it is worth understanding what it is and what elements it consists of. So, the cylinder head on a Chevrolet Niva is a rectangular engine cover, which is made of aluminum and its alloys.

It is rare to find cast iron cylinder heads on older models; most often they were installed on diesel engines.

The cover design includes:

valve rocker;
hydraulic compensator;
valve seats;
guide bushings;
springs that ensure the valves return to their original position;
spark plugs;
intake and exhaust valves.

The cover with all the above parts of the Niva Chevrolet engine is called the cylinder head.

Functioning of the cylinder head

So, the functioning of the head is determined by the following actions:

When the engine starts, the rod is pushed by the camshaft.
The rod exerts a mechanical effect on the hydraulic compensator and subsequently on the rocker arm.
The rocker arm acts on the opening of the fuel-air valve.
When this valve opens, the air-fuel mixture is supplied to the combustion chamber, where it ignites.
Combustion is ensured by the presence of spark plugs, which produce a spark at a certain time.
The exhaust valve diverts the ignited mixture in the form of gases into the exhaust manifold. The cycle repeats.

Replacing the gasket - what the Niva owner will need

To replace a cylinder head gasket that has lost its performance properties on a Chevrolet, you should prepare a set of tools and materials. Here is the list:

flat and Phillips screwdrivers;
pliers;
wrenches – torque wrenches, as well as sets of open-end and socket wrenches;
wrench with extension and heads for it (including one 13th type E-Torx);
38 mm ratchet wrench.

You will also need:

new gasket;
neutral sealant;
fresh antifreeze;
sandpaper 180;
New lock washer for Chevrolet camshaft.

The replacement work is carried out in several stages. Each is described below.

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How to change the cylinder block gasket in a Chevrolet ?

Sooner or later, the engine of any car will need maintenance or repair. Especially if the car is operated in difficult and extreme conditions, which is especially important for domestically produced SUVs. Now you will learn how to do it, Chevrolet Niva,
spare head gasket, balloons and what to prepare.

When should I change my cylinder head gasket?

Cylinder head gaskets need to be replaced

Niva Chevrolet

and, accordingly, the need for its tightening torque arises in some cases.
Replacing the Chevrolet niva cylinder head gasket: video. If damaged, the gasket in the vehicle must be replaced. This means that there are cracks and breaks in the structure the cylinder cover . 3 grenades. 3.1 video about Chevrolet Drive on Chevrolet Niva:. In this case, field owner Chevrolet
A gas rupture will occur in the cooling system, as evidenced by regular drilling of antifreeze.

Tightening cylinder head screws for Niva Chevrolet

Replacement process and tightening torque

Tools you need

To perform this work, replace head gasket Niva Chevrolet

and when tightening the cylinder head bolts, be prepared:

Draining antifreeze in Chevrolet

This is the first stage that is performed when replacing a damaged Niva gasket. Initially, you need to remove the mudguard and the lubrication sump housing - they are located in the engine compartment.

Further:

reduce the pressure in the coolant supply system by opening the cap of the distribution tank (be sure to close it afterwards - this will reduce the antifreeze pressure);
place a container of at least 9 liters under the drain (it is under the radiator on the left);
unscrew the cap and wait until the liquid pours out;
inspect the gasket of the drain plug - if it is worn out, replace it too;
Remove the cap from the expansion tank again.

Now you need to get rid of the antifreeze remaining in the cooling system of the engine itself. To the left of the cylinder head, near the ignition unit, there is a separate drain hole. Place a container under it and unscrew the plug with a 13 key.

When the liquid flows out, tighten the radiator cap and cylinder head. In the latter case, a force of at least 25 N∙m will be required.

Removing the cylinder head cover

Place the machine on a pit or ramp.

First, the holders of the brake booster pipe and the throttle valve drive cable should be disconnected from the cylinder head cover. They are mounted on special brackets on the left and right sides of the block.

Next, use a 10mm wrench to unscrew the bolt securing the air duct couplings. Move it aside. Next, using a screwdriver, slightly loosen the clamp of the crankcase ventilation pipe, which connects it to the air duct. Now use a 10mm socket to unscrew the bolts holding the cylinder head cover. The order is not important here.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

After that remove:

brackets for the throttle cable and motor screen;
lid pressure washers;
ventilation and air hoses.

Next, all that remains is to remove the cylinder head cover.

Chevrolet Niva Manual

We carry out the work on an inspection ditch or overpass. We remove the cylinder head complete with throttle assembly, receiver, fuel rail, intake pipe, exhaust manifold and thermostat. Relieve the pressure in the fuel rail (see Replacing the fuel filter). Disconnect the wire terminal from the negative terminal of the battery. Drain the coolant from the radiator and cylinder block (see Replacing the coolant). We remove the tips of the high-voltage wires from the spark plugs (see Checking the condition and replacing spark plugs) and remove the oil level indicator from the guide tube. We disconnect the tip of the throttle valve drive cable from the throttle assembly sector (see Removing the throttle drive, replacing the cable). Then we disconnect from: • the receiver - the throttle cable and the brake booster hose (see Replacing the receiver gasket); • cooling jacket outlet pipe - upper radiator hose (see Removing and installing the engine); • thermostat - lower radiator hose and fluid supply hose to the coolant pump (see Replacing the thermostat); • cylinder head pipe and heater radiator outlet pipe - heater radiator hoses (see Removing and installing the engine); • canister purge valve - a tube connecting the valve to the adsorber (see Removing elements of the fuel vapor recovery system); • fuel rail - fuel supply hose (see Removing the fuel rail and injectors); • exhaust manifold - exhaust pipe (see Removing the exhaust pipe) and starter shield (see Replacing the gasket of the intake pipe and exhaust manifold); We disconnect the engine management system wiring harness connectors from the injector wiring harness, the control system coolant temperature sensors and the coolant temperature indicator, the crankshaft position sensor, the phase sensor, the idle speed controller, and the canister purge valve (see the relevant sections). Remove the cylinder head cover. Turn the crankshaft until the mark on the camshaft sprocket aligns with the mark on the camshaft bearing housing (see Removing the camshaft and valve drive levers). Remove the hydraulic timing chain tensioner (see Removing the hydraulic timing chain tensioner). We remove the sprocket from the camshaft toe and tie the chain with wire. Remove the camshaft and valve drive levers (see Removing the camshaft and valve drive levers). Using a 13mm socket, unscrew the cylinder head mounting bolt located next to the upper mounting bolt of the generator bracket. Using the E16 head, unscrew... ...ten bolts securing the head to the cylinder block... ...and remove the bolts. Remove the cylinder head assembly with thermostat, throttle assembly, receiver, intake pipe, fuel rail and exhaust manifold. The cylinder head can also be removed from the engine by first removing the intake pipe and exhaust manifold (see Replacing the intake pipe and exhaust manifold gasket). Remove the cylinder head without the exhaust manifold and intake pipe. Remove the cylinder head gasket. Before installing a new gasket, clean the mating surfaces of the head and cylinder block from remnants of the old gasket, deposits and oil. Using a syringe with a needle or a rubber bulb, remove oil and coolant from the holes in the cylinder block for the head bolts. We install the gasket and cylinder head using two centering bushings. When installing the head on the cylinder block, we thread the chain with wire through the hole in the head. Having installed the cylinder head bolts, tighten them in the order shown in the figure. Procedure for tightening the cylinder head bolts. To ensure a reliable seal and avoid tightening the bolts during vehicle maintenance, we tighten them in four steps: 1st step - tighten bolts 1–10 with a torque of 20 N m (2.0 kgf m); 2nd step - tighten bolts 1–10 to a torque of 69.4–85.7 Nm (7.1–8.7 kgf m), and bolt 11 to a torque of 31.4–39.1 Nm ( 3.2–4.0 kgf m). Then we turn bolts 1–10 by 90° (3rd step) and another 90° (4th step). We carry out further assembly in reverse order.

Torsion bolts (plastically deformable)

Part number: 21213-1003271-01-0. Name: Torx cylinder head bolt. This name (torsion bar bolts) is fundamentally incorrect, but what can you do if they are called that on all forums and in all stores. According to science, when they say torsion bar, they mean deformation from twisting. And in this case, tensile deformation. In stores, these bolts are also called cylinder head bolts for Niva Chevrolet or cylinder head bolts of a new type. I also came across the name torx or chamomile. These bolts, unlike hardened ones, provide a constant load. That is, in a very primitive way we can talk about the grommet effect, that is, about the constant force to compress the cylinder head gasket in the axial direction of the bolt. These bolts are widely used on imported engines because they avoid human factor errors. In fact, you don't need to tighten with the precision of a torque wrench. The final values are taken as angular values. I don’t really like this approach, but such things are now commonly called “assembly guarantee”.

Engine

Let's consider the malfunctions encountered in the operation of power units.

Error	Decoding
p0013	There is a break in the circuit between the crankshaft and camshaft devices. Shaft adjustment required
p0171, p0172	The control unit received a signal about the incorrect functioning of the fuel supply control system. The volume of the air-fuel mixture in the power unit is reduced or increased. We need to identify the cause
p0201, p0262	Malfunctions related to the operation of the injector of cylinder 1
p0202, p0265	Problems related to the functioning of the injector of cylinder 2
p0203, p0268	Cylinder 4 injector needs diagnostics
p0204, p0271	Cylinder 4 injector check required
p0300, p0353	The control unit received a signal from the ignition system, and the driver is informed about the omissions. You need to adjust the ignition. This problem will affect the performance of the power unit as a whole. The engine may stall and there will be problems starting
p0400, p0401	The exhaust gas recirculation valve has failed. The device is broken and needs to be repaired or is blocked. It is necessary to check the functionality and replace it
p0601	There was a problem with the controller of the electronic engine control system. The device may be providing incorrect data.
p0602	Problems with the controller. It is necessary to check the functionality of the control unit and reprogram it.
p0604	RAM faults. The ECM needs diagnostics
p0606	ECM processor supplies incorrect data to control module
p0661	Incorrect functioning of the solenoid located on the intake manifold drive
p0700	This malfunction is more typical for cars equipped with automatic transmission. It rarely appears in cars with manual transmission. The code reports malfunctions recorded in the functioning of the motor controller
p2118	The motor control module reports the presence of mechanical problems in the operation of the charge drive when idling.
p2610	The ignition cut-off timer has failed
p1451	EVAP valve malfunction. The reason is depressurization of the fuel system. Sometimes the malfunction is caused by a loose gas tank cap. Also, an error code appears if the tank, lines or adsorber or other system components are damaged
p0422	Error in the operation of the neutralizer. The control module recorded low efficiency of its operation. The problem can be solved by resetting the error or removing the catalyst, flashing the control unit to the Euro-3 standard and installing a fake instead of the second lambda probe. Or you can change the catalyst, since it cannot be repaired

The Car Lover channel provided a video in which a full review of the ELM 327 adapter was carried out. The author of the video told how to diagnose on-board computer faults in a Chevrolet Niva.