What is a common cause of a failed cylinder head gasket?

A common cause of a failed cylinder head gasket is insufficient liner height. When the height of the cylinder liner is inadequate, it can lead to poor sealing between the liner and the cylinder head. This typically results in uneven pressures during combustion and can allow coolant or oil to leak into the combustion chamber or vice versa. The improper height can create gaps or misalignments that the gasket cannot adequately seal, ultimately leading to failure.

In contrast, while rolled liner O-rings and cracked cylinder heads can indeed contribute to gasket failure, they are not as directly attributed to cylinder head gasket issues as insufficient liner height. These conditions are often the results of other mechanical problems rather than a direct cause of the gasket failure itself. Additionally, a turbocharger waste-gate stuck open more directly affects engine performance rather than the sealing capabilities of the cylinder head gasket. Therefore, insufficient liner height stands out as a direct mechanical cause of gasket failure due to its influence on sealing integrity.