Dodge 2000 DURANGO Service Manual page 599

9 - 90 5.2L ENGINE
DESCRIPTION AND OPERATION (Continued)
CYLINDER HEAD COVER GASKET
DESCRIPTION
The cylinder head cover gasket is a steel-backed
silicone gasket, designed for long life usage (Fig. 7).
Fig. 7 Cylinder Head Cover Gasket V-8 Gas Engines
1 – CYLINDER HEAD COVER GASKET
OPERATION
The steel-backed silicone gasket is designed to seal
the cylinder head cover for long periods of time
through extensive heat and cold, without failure. The
gasket is designed to be reusable.
CYLINDER HEAD
DESCRIPTION
The cast iron cylinder heads are mounted to the
cylinder block using ten bolts (Fig. 8). The spark
plugs are located in the peak of the wedge between
the valves.
Fig. 8 Cylinder Head Assembly—V-8 Gas Engines
1 – EXHAUST VALVE
2 – SPARK PLUGS
3 – EXHAUST VALVES
4 – SPARK PLUGS
5 – EXHAUST VALVE
6 – INTAKE VALVES
7 – INTAKE VALVES
OPERATION
The cylinder head closes the combustion chamber
allowing the pistons to compress the air fuel mixture
to the correct ratio for ignition. The valves located in
the cylinder head open and close to either allow clean
air into the combustion chamber or to allow the
exhaust gases out, depending on the stroke of the
engine.
VALVES AND VALVE SPRINGS
DESCRIPTION
Both the intake and exhaust valves are made of
steel. The intake valve is 48.768 mm (1.92 inches) in
diameter and the exhaust valve is 41.148 mm (1.62
inches) in diameter and has a 2.032 mm (0.080 inch)
wafer interia welded to the tip for durability. These
valves are not splayed.
ENGINE OIL PAN
DESCRIPTION
The stamped steel engine oil pan is located at the
bottom of the engine, and contains a drain plug for
draining the engine oil.
OPERATION
The oil pan holds the engine oil and seals and pro-
tects the engine lower components from contami-
nates.
CRANKSHAFT OIL SEALS
DESCRIPTION
The crankshaft rear seal is a two piece viton seal.
The crankshaft front seal is a one piece viton seal
with a steel housing. The front seal is located in the
engine front cover. One part of the two piece rear
seal is located in a slot in the number five (5) crank-
shaft main bore, the second part of the two piece seal
is located in the number five (5) main bearing cap.
OPERATION
The crankshaft seals prevent oil from leaking from
around the crankshaft, either from the rear of the
engine or from the engine front cover.
PISTON AND CONNECTING ROD
DESCRIPTION
The pistons are made of aluminum and have three
ring grooves, the top two grooves are for the compres-
sion rings and the bottom groove is for the oil control
ring. The connecting rods are forged steel and are
coined prior to heat treat. The piston pins are press
fit.
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