When a diesel cylinder head cracks, drops a valve seat or starts pushing coolant, you have two main choices: buy a new head or buy a remanufactured one. Both can get your truck back to work. The right pick depends on your budget, your timeline and how long you plan to keep the engine.
What Is a Remanufactured Cylinder Head?
A remanufactured (reman) head starts as a used core. The core is stripped, cleaned and inspected for cracks. Good castings are pressure tested, then machined flat. Worn parts such as valves, guides, seats and springs are replaced or reworked to spec. The result is a head that should perform like new, built from a proven casting.
What Is a New Cylinder Head?
A new head is built from a fresh casting that has never been in service. New heads often come loaded, with valves, springs and retainers already installed. Because nothing is reused, there is no core history to worry about.
Reman vs New: Side by Side
- Price: reman heads usually cost less than new heads.
- Core charge: reman heads often carry a core charge. You get it back when you return a good, rebuildable core. New heads may not need a core.
- Availability: for older engines such as the Cummins 855 or Caterpillar 3406E, a reman head may be easier to find than a new one.
- Warranty: check the warranty on each part. At Internet Diesel, rebuilt products carry a 180-day warranty. See our warranty policy for details.
- Life of the engine: if you plan to run the truck for many more years, a new head can be worth the extra cost.
Loaded vs Bare Heads
A loaded head comes with valves, springs, retainers and keepers installed. It saves shop time and is ready to bolt on. A bare head is just the casting, so you move over or buy the valve train parts yourself. Loaded heads cost more up front but often cost less once labor is counted.
Questions to Ask Before You Buy
- What is my exact engine model and serial number? Heads for the same engine family can change by year and emissions level.
- Do I need a loaded or bare head?
- Is there a core charge, and how long do I have to return the core? At Internet Diesel the core window is 30 days.
- What caused the old head to fail? Overheating, a bad water pump or a clogged radiator will damage a new head too.
Install Tips
Always use new head bolts and a new head gasket unless the engine maker says the bolts can be reused. Check the block deck for flatness. Torque the bolts in the right order and in stages. Set valve lash to spec, and fix the root cause of any overheating before you start the engine.
Shop Cylinder Heads
Internet Diesel stocks new and reman heads for the Caterpillar C15, C13, C12 and 3406E, the Cummins ISX15, N14, 855, ISB and 8.3L, the Detroit Diesel Series 60, and the Volvo D13. Browse our diesel cylinder heads, or call 1-800-562-0360 with your engine serial number and we will help you choose.