Cylinder head sealing system and method

A combustion gas seal for sealing receipt about a cylinder bore clamped between a cylinder head and a cylinder block or liner of an internal combustion engine, comprising:

• a malleable sealing ring disposed between the cylinder head and the cylinder block or liner;
• said malleable sealing ring being crushable between the cylinder head and the cylinder block or liner to form a seal when clamped therebetween;
• and
• a backing ring disposed adjacent to and radially outward of said malleable sealing ring for supporting said malleable sealing ring against deformation during operation of the engine;
• wherein said backing ring is constructed from a material having an ultimate tensile strength greater than 70,000 pounds per square inch.

A method for sealing a cylinder head joint of an internal combustion engine, the internal combustion engine including a cylinder head having a cylinder head mounting surface, a cylinder block having a cylinder block mounting surface and a cylinder liner mounted in a bore of the cylinder block, the cylinder liner defining a cylinder bore and including a flange extending upwardly from the cylinder block, the method for sealing comprising the steps of:

• obtaining a spacer plate having a top mounting surface and a bottom mounting surface, said spacer plate including at least one cylinder liner throughhole for receiving the cylinder liner therein;
• placing said spacer plate on the cylinder block with said bottom mounting surface contacting the cylinder block mounting surface and with the cylinder liner received in said at least one cylinder liner throughhole;
• placing a combustion gas seal in said cylinder liner through hole onto the cylinder liner;
• placing the cylinder head on said spacer plate and said combustion gas seal;
• and
• clamping said spacer plate between the cylinder head and the cylinder block and said combustion gas seal between the cylinder head and the cylinder liner.