In which order should cylinder head bolts be removed?

• A. Inward From Center
• B. Outside To Inside
• C. Starting At The Outside And Working Inward
• D. Random Order

Answer: (C)

Loosening cylinder head bolts in a controlled, sequential way is essential to prevent warping the head or damaging the gasket. When the head is clamped by multiple bolts, the clamping force is distributed across the entire surface. Releasing that load gradually helps keep the head flat and reduces the risk of distortion as bolts come free.

Starting at the outside and working inward is the method that achieves this gentle, even relief. Often the tightening pattern for heads begins near the center and moves outward, so loosening in the reverse order—outer bolts first and then toward the center—lets the remaining bolts share the load progressively and avoids a sudden shift that could lift the head unevenly.

Avoid random loosening, which can create uneven stress and lead to gasket or seating surface damage. Always follow the service manual’s specified sequence and loosen in small increments.