weeping head gasket - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

bucket · 10-22-2003, 09:37 PM

you all may remember that i had some weeping head bolts following my rebuild a couple of months ago. anyway, pulled each bolt one by one, resealed and torqued. now after 700 miles, i still have one or two small weeps between the drivers side head and block. i'm not burning any noticeable coolant, oil looks good, etc. so i hate to pull the head. i retorqued after 500 miles and all was well. I had a mechanic tell me it may corrode itself closed eventually. what do you guys think? is it inevitable that the gasket will go?

lukecp · 10-22-2003, 09:41 PM

What kind of sealent did you use?

I would be weary of putting too many miles on a engine with a leaking head gasket...you can get combusiton gases into the cooling system, and the engine can draw in coolant into the cylinder on the intake stroke. Defenitly not a good thing.

Did you have a shop rebuild the motor? If so does it have a warranty?

Pulling heads isn't too hard of a job....i did my first head swap this summer, took me about 2 days on and off of work, but i am pretty slow. If you are good, you can get it done in an afternoon

bucket · 10-22-2003, 09:58 PM

i used silicone sealant the first time around and bolts leaked like a stuck pig. so i resealed using liquid tfe thread sealant. i'm pretty sure i'm not pulling coolant into the combustion chamber at this point. plugs are not steam cleaned.

no warranty. i built her

cdowns · 10-22-2003, 10:03 PM

the right way is to take the heads off and redo it

crazy longhorn · 10-22-2003, 10:05 PM

You might try a little "dope", like Barrs leak, or aluma seal in the coolant...... not the best way to go, but if the leak is external you might get by with it. good luck, crazyL

Jerdog · 10-24-2003, 12:05 AM

You know what the right thing to do is. I can't see this getting any better. Whip the heads off and do it again. I'm really curious though. I've never had coolant leaks at the head bolts. When you rebuilt your engine what brand of head gaskets did you use?

10-22-2003, 09:37 PM	#1
bucket Registered User Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Shawnee, KS Posts: 923	weeping head gasket you all may remember that i had some weeping head bolts following my rebuild a couple of months ago. anyway, pulled each bolt one by one, resealed and torqued. now after 700 miles, i still have one or two small weeps between the drivers side head and block. i'm not burning any noticeable coolant, oil looks good, etc. so i hate to pull the head. i retorqued after 500 miles and all was well. I had a mechanic tell me it may corrode itself closed eventually. what do you guys think? is it inevitable that the gasket will go?

10-22-2003, 09:41 PM	#2
lukecp Formerly yellow72custom Join Date: May 2001 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 7,531	What kind of sealent did you use? I would be weary of putting too many miles on a engine with a leaking head gasket...you can get combusiton gases into the cooling system, and the engine can draw in coolant into the cylinder on the intake stroke. Defenitly not a good thing. Did you have a shop rebuild the motor? If so does it have a warranty? Pulling heads isn't too hard of a job....i did my first head swap this summer, took me about 2 days on and off of work, but i am pretty slow. If you are good, you can get it done in an afternoon __________________ '72 Chevy C10 Mild 350/TH350/3.07. Ochre/White. Old high school ride. '70 GMC C2500 '62 327 4bbl/SM465/4.56-geared Dana 60. White/White. Project or parts truck. '97 Saturn SL DD. 1.9/5-speed. 40+ highway mpg

10-22-2003, 10:03 PM	#4
cdowns Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: daytonabeach Posts: 22,956	the right way is to take the heads off and redo it __________________ 71c-10 350/2004r/4:11 lowered3/4 longbed/dead by hurricane MEANING OF DEATH::::: SOMEBODY ELSE GETS YOUR STUFF DONT BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU THINK TAKE MY ADVISE;I DON'T USE IT ANYWAY

10-22-2003, 10:05 PM	#5
crazy longhorn Fabricate till you "puke" Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Ill Posts: 9,403	You might try a little "dope", like Barrs leak, or aluma seal in the coolant...... not the best way to go, but if the leak is external you might get by with it. good luck, crazyL __________________ 69 longhorn,4" chop,3/5 drop, 1/2 ton suspension/disc brakes,1 1/2" body drop,steel tilt clip, 5.3/Edelbrock rpm intake/600 carb, Hooker streetrod shorties,2 1/2" exhaust/ H pipe/50's Flows , 6 spd Richmond trans,12 bolt/ 3.40 gears....

10-22-2003, 09:58 PM	#3
bucket Registered User Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Shawnee, KS Posts: 923	i used silicone sealant the first time around and bolts leaked like a stuck pig. so i resealed using liquid tfe thread sealant. i'm pretty sure i'm not pulling coolant into the combustion chamber at this point. plugs are not steam cleaned. no warranty. i built her

10-24-2003, 12:05 AM	#6
Jerdog Registered User Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Bakersfield, CA Posts: 38	You know what the right thing to do is. I can't see this getting any better. Whip the heads off and do it again. I'm really curious though. I've never had coolant leaks at the head bolts. When you rebuilt your engine what brand of head gaskets did you use?



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