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What cause's a motor to overheat and the cylinder head to crack.

George

From the "Ask Jack" archives - 28 August 2009

There is no one single answer to your question.

Overheating can be caused by a number of issues such as, but not exclusive to, blocked radiator, sudden or gradual loss of water, faulty water pump, faulty thermostat, faulty radiator fan, towing, extremely lean fuel /air mixture to name a few.

One thing is certain however, an overheated engine and damaged cylinder head is a result of a overheating problem not the a cause.

Some vehicles have unique issues as well. For example, some Subaru's with a modified and non genuine air intake system or element, can develop overheating problems which can cause major internal engine damage.