what is the difference between a head and a dual overhead cam?

Question

I assume, the dual overhead cam is above the head.

If I remove the dual overhead cam, I also assume, that there are o rings and/or gaskets, between the head and the dual overhead cam. Am I right in my assumptions? If so, what are the o rings and or gaskets called, so I can order them at autozone.com?

Thank you for all your help.

Answer 1

You are correct - two cams above the head is a "duel over head cam" engine.

Any O rings or gaskets would apply to the valve cover and/or head itself, and not to the cams.

If the concern is an oil leak, it could be a front cam seal depending on the engine.

Answer 2

Essentially what you have with a DOHC engine (dual overhead cam) is that you have 2 heads on your engine to put it in simple terms. You have your cam housing and then you have you actual head where the valves are located. Usually, and I say usually because with today's vehicles you never know, there is a gasket between the cam housing and the head. And yes the cams are above the head. With over head cams it is the actual cam separated by "lifters" (small ones at that) that opens the valves in the engine, compared to a pushrod engine where the cam is in the block directly above the crankshaft and when the cam turns it pushes the lifters that above it up, in turn pushing a 4-7 inch steel rod up causing the rockers (that are on the head) to create a see-saw effect, forcing one end up forcing the other down which opens the valve. But there could be a different technical name for it but usually the gasket is just called the camshaft housing gasket. Also, there is a special bolt pattern that MUST be followed when removing the cams and heads. this is so the head and housing are not warped or damaged in the process. There are also special torque specs that also MUST be followed when re-tightening to avoid the above mentioned. Not sure if you knew that just making sure.

Answer 3

All of the small engines like 4 cylinder either have a single(SOHC) or a dual (DOHC) cam to run them The differents between the two is that a SOHC works both intake & exhaust valves were a DOHC has two cams one to run the intake valves and the other one runs the exhaust valves.Yes both of these heads have the cam/or cams on top of the head. Now when you get to big block engines the cam run through the middle of the engine, each head has the intake & exhaust vales a long with rocker arms, push rods and the lifters are down inside of the engine , when the engine turns over it turns the cam which then pushes up the lifters & push rods causing the rocker arms to push the valves up and down.I hope this helps you to understand better.

Answer 4

A "dual overhead cam" is a type of engine. The head is a part of that engine. The cams fit on the head. If you are going to be working on your car, I suggest getting a good shop manual for it. That way you will have all the necessary specs and information.

Answer 5

You are probably talking about a 4 cylinder motor, as there are two cams on top of engine. one for intake one for exhaust, thus dual cam.

the gasket for the cover is the valve cover gasket. the only other gasket is under the head, and that is the head gasket.



Yes you can get gaskets at any auto part store. look for the valve cover gasket.

Answer 6

it fairly is my popular subject count, intake airflow. i'm going to shop it as short as a risk. Your engine is truthfully an air pump. the greater air you are able to squeeze into the cylinders the greater beneficial. unmarried overhead cams purely have 2 valves consistent with cylinder, while twin overhead cams have 4 valves consistent with cylinder. the added valves(2 intake, 2 exhaust) enable greater beneficial & greater airflow into the cylinder. twin overhead cams is larger, yet that doesn't mean that the 4 cylinder would be greater useful than your v-6.

Answer 7

you must mean overhead cam. the two have nothing in common.



single cam operate all the lifters. dual overhaed cams may operate different cams to the same combustion chamber for cars that have multiple lifters. like some cars have 1 exhuast and intake lifter. but high preformance may have two to three intake/exhaust lifters. the multiple cams allow for optimal preformance.

Answer 8

one has just a single bumpstick while the other has 2 tittiesticks