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new head gasket leaking

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Realfunone

Member
I put on new oem head gaskets. I did all the stuff to resurface the heads flat. I have a 1988 150 TXCCA . I re tightened the head bolts where I saw water leaking out. Most of the leaks stopped. There is still 2 spots where it is still leaking. What is your best advice to fix the problem. I did use a torque wrench with the old head bolts. My overheating problem seems to be solved. 143 and 136. both heads leak lower half inside.
 
Are you talking about the head gaskets or the water jacket? If your head gasket is leaking water that's a huge issue due to water intrusion in the cylinder. If it's the water jacket gasket it's less of a problem. Still you don't want water running all over your coils, but it's not a death sentence.

Did you torque it down in the proper sequence? If not you may have caused a slight warp that compromised your gasket. My guess is you'll need a new gasket, clean surfaces, reapply, and torque in the correct sequence.

KJ
 
Head bolt torque as I remember it is 18 to 20 foot pounds.

The tightening sequence is as follows... where each number is a head bolt'

17...18
13...14
9....10
5.....6
1.....2
4.....3
8.....7
12...11
16...15
 
ok guys, I went outside and gave them a little more. I got one side to stop. the left bank still leaks. Joe I followed the oem manual. it is like you said, but only 14 bolts. Well I gave the one bolt just a little exra turn and boom.....oh sh&%$# It appears and confirmed I stripped the head, not the bolt, i ran the tap thru there and that didn't help... Now what ?
I am talking about the head bolts, not the water jacket.
 
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do I need to take the head back off ? replace the head gasket? Anybody know what I need to do. Specifics.... I know what a heli coil is, but is there anything that I need to pay attention to so I don't make things worse?
 
Did you strip the threads in the block that holds the bolt that hold down the head? How about redrilling to the next size bolt and retapping threads with head removed, heads should be torqued down in 3 stages in sequence,then retorqued after engine has been warmed up and cooled down properly,before running a second time, A new head gasket is needed!! Have your heads checked with a known straight edge,then resurface with 220 grit wet/dry sandpaper on a level piece of glass in a figure 8 pattern until entire surface is shinning the same,reinstall
 
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Yes it's the holes in the block. I did the procedure that you mentioned. My confidence was high that it was done correctly. So the block has the room to rebore a new hole safely? Thats a good idea. My first choice will try a time cert. if that fails next larger size. Any idea what bolt to use . The size now is a 5/16 NC 18. Another question is the helicoil or time sert will that material cause corrosion to worry about?
 
Stick to the original size bolt and have a deep threaded heli-coil installed... that is a heli-coil with the maximum amount of threads (Long As Possible).

Going to a larger bolt is not a good idea.

If a new head gasket is actually leaking water..... someone has milled the block or heads improperly... OR... the sealing surface of the block or heads is flawed, scored, chipped, something!
 
I guess my prep work wasn't all that. I did some more cleanup on the head . I took it to my mechanic and he will install a helicoil. Standard size. He said that it doesn't need a long one. With the low torque spec it will be fine. My baby will be fine so I will sleep better tonight. Thanks for the advice guys. I look forward to my next project.
 
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