I think I blew it up AGAIN!
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True Car Nut
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From: Danville, Illinois
Well, I got down to the heads, but I haven't pulled them. There was what seemed like oil on the bottom of a couple of the rear bank fuel injectors. But maybe I'm crazy and it was just fuel.
The rear center spark plug (3) has coolant on it. The front center is ok.
The rear center spark plug (3) has coolant on it. The front center is ok.
DINOSAURUS BOOSTUS
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Joined: Mar 2005
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From: Enfield, CT
Hi Jon, sorry about your latest meltdown. At least you spanked the Mazda. I've gotten the call from the side of the road before. When I asked the all important question "Did you win" I heard.."no".
An engine for a win can be worthwhile.
I have seen head gaskets fail in many ways. Think of all the things around the cylinder. You can blow into the next cylinder (not common) the oil and the coolant.
The oil puffs/loss suggest to me that you blew into the oil return holes this time around. You'd have heard/felt a piston. I'm going with gasket into oil.
Like I mentioned to Dan. No matter what head gaskets you use, get a can of copper rtv and coat both sides of one gasket. Let it tack up and spray it again. Now install. Repeat for the other side. Personally I put 3-4 coats on each side.
Double check bolts. Might be the TTY'* giving you crap. Might not.
An engine for a win can be worthwhile.
I have seen head gaskets fail in many ways. Think of all the things around the cylinder. You can blow into the next cylinder (not common) the oil and the coolant.
The oil puffs/loss suggest to me that you blew into the oil return holes this time around. You'd have heard/felt a piston. I'm going with gasket into oil.
Like I mentioned to Dan. No matter what head gaskets you use, get a can of copper rtv and coat both sides of one gasket. Let it tack up and spray it again. Now install. Repeat for the other side. Personally I put 3-4 coats on each side.
Double check bolts. Might be the TTY'* giving you crap. Might not.
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From: New Lenox, IL
Thread Starter
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From: Danville, Illinois
I haven't pulled either yet. I just know the rear center plug tastes sweet. Hahaa
Yeah, I'll pull both. But I'm reusing the bolts. They only have 150 miles on them, I'm sure they're not out of spec.
Yeah, I'll pull both. But I'm reusing the bolts. They only have 150 miles on them, I'm sure they're not out of spec.
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From: New Lenox, IL
I wouldn't reuse the head bolts. I know you want to save money but I also know that blowing another set of expensive head gaskets isn't in your budget.
The bolts stretch and are designed to be tightened right up until they stretch to keep the heads on there tightly. If you put in a bolt that'* already been stretched and you tighten it to spec again, not only do you run the possibility of breaking the bolt inside the block, but you also run the risk of not having as tight of a hold and having another head gasket blow somewhere down the line as a result. TTY bolts are not like tires man, you can't just say "oh I'll reuse them because I don't have very many miles on them." Once you tighten them, they do stretch a bit and are useless for automotive purposes if you have to take them out again.
Tightening bolts in this manner brings them very close to their yield points. The yield point is when a bolt begins to stretch or, if taken even further, breaks. Slightly stretching bolts gives them the resilience they’ll need to keep the gasket properly compressed over thousands of heating and cooling periods in the engine’* service life.