Ford & Mazda Cylinder Heads — WEAT & G6 Fitment Guide
Ford and Mazda have shared engine platforms across their ute and 4WD ranges for decades. The WEAT is the 2.5-litre turbo diesel fitted to the Ford Ranger and Mazda BT50, while the G6 is the 2.6-litre petrol engine found in the older Ford Courier, Mazda Bravo and Mazda B2600. Both are well-proven engines with long service lives — but both can suffer cylinder head failures, particularly as the fleet ages.
Because Ford and Mazda shared these platforms, the same cylinder head fits both badges. One part, multiple applications.
WEAT — Ford Ranger & Mazda BT50 (2.5L Turbo Diesel)
Fitment
- Ford Ranger PJ / PK — 2006 to 2011 (WEAT engine, 2.5L turbo diesel)
- Mazda BT50 UN — 2006 to 2011 (WEAT engine, 2.5L turbo diesel)
The WEAT is a 4-cylinder DOHC diesel. It was replaced by the P4AT (3.2L 5-cylinder) in the 2011+ Ranger/BT50 facelift — confirm your engine code before ordering.
Common Causes of WEAT Head Failure
- Coolant neglect — the WEAT is generally robust but suffers when coolant maintenance is deferred; degraded coolant causes internal corrosion of the head passages
- Overheating events — a single severe overheat can warp the head beyond tolerance
- High kilometres — PJ/PK Rangers and BT50s are now well into their second decade; head wear is a natural consequence of age and hard use
Symptoms of WEAT Head Failure
- White or grey exhaust smoke on a warm engine
- Coolant loss without a visible external leak
- Milky residue under the oil cap
- Engine overheating or temperature gauge running high
- Loss of power or rough running under load
What’s Included — WEAT Complete Cylinder Head
- Cylinder head (pressure tested, face-checked and refaced if necessary)
- Camshaft (fitted)
- Rocker assembly
- Valves, springs, retainers and stem seals
A VRS gasket set and head bolts are required for installation and are available separately or as a combined kit.
G6 — Ford Courier & Mazda Bravo / B2600 (2.6L Petrol)
Fitment
- Ford Courier — 1996 to 2006 (G6 engine, 2.6L petrol)
- Mazda Bravo B2600 — 1996 to 2006 (G6 engine, 2.6L petrol)
- Mazda B2600 — earlier variants from approximately 1987 to 1999 (G6 engine)
The G6 is a long-running engine with a large number of vehicles still in service across Australia, particularly in rural and regional areas where older utes remain workhorses.
Common Causes of G6 Head Failure
- Age and high kilometres — the G6 fleet is old; valve seat recession, worn guides and cracked heads are common at high mileage
- Overheating — often caused by a failed thermostat, blocked radiator or neglected coolant
- Valve seat recession — particularly on vehicles that have been run on unleaded fuel without a lead substitute (earlier G6 heads were designed for leaded fuel)
Symptoms of G6 Head Failure
- White smoke from the exhaust (coolant burning)
- Blue smoke (oil burning — worn valve guides or stem seals)
- Rough idle or misfiring
- Loss of compression on one or more cylinders
- Coolant loss or oil contamination
What’s Included — G6 Assembled Cylinder Head
Our G6 head is an assembled head — valves, springs, retainers and stem seals are fitted, but the camshaft is not included (the G6 uses a pushrod valvetrain with the camshaft in the block).
- Cylinder head (pressure tested, face-checked and refaced if necessary)
- Valves, springs, retainers and stem seals
- Hardened valve seats (suitable for unleaded fuel)
A VRS gasket set and head bolts are required for installation and are available separately or as a combined kit.
Installation Tips (Both Engines)
- Always use new head bolts — both the WEAT and G6 use torque-to-yield bolts that must not be reused
- Check the block face for flatness before fitting the new head
- Flush the cooling system and refill with fresh coolant
- Address the root cause — if the head failed due to overheating, identify and fix the cause before fitting the replacement
- Torque in sequence to factory specifications — use a torque angle gauge where required
- Bleed the cooling system thoroughly before first start
Quality Assurance
- 100% quality inspected before dispatch
- Valve-to-seat compression tested
- Head face checked and refaced if necessary
- Professionally assembled in Australia
Shop the WEAT & G6 Range
- Ford Ranger / Mazda BT50 — WEAT Complete Cylinder Head
- Ford Ranger / Mazda BT50 — WEAT VRS Gasket Set + Bolts
- Ford Courier / Mazda — G6 Assembled Cylinder Head
- Ford Courier / Mazda Bravo — G6 Assembled Cylinder Head + Bolts
- Ford Courier / Mazda B2600 — G6 VRS Gasket Set + Bolts
Free delivery Australia-wide | Express shipping available | 12-month warranty | 🇦🇺 Call John on 0406 611 288