Cylinder Head Gasket Replacement

[ChrisD]

Three weeks ago I noticed coolant under my stag, after a bit of investigation I traced the leak to the cylinder head gasket near the dip stick. As there were no signs of any leaks from the N/S Cylinder head gasket, I decided to only replace the O/S cylinder head gasket. I ordered the replacement gaskets, studs, bolts, thermostat and a set of cooling system hoses for good measure. To my surprise and delight all the studs came out using only a screw driver. Once I removed the Cylinder head I saw the state of the gasket, I decided to replace the N/S as well. Once again I was lucky and all the studs came out - although to be fair they had only been in for five years.

As the heads were skimmed last time and the car hadn't overheated I decided to just to clean up the head and block. So far I have covered approx. 35 miles, touch wood there are no signs of any leaks and the Vee is dry for the first time in my seven years of ownership, although over the years I have spent a fortune trying to rectify the leak in the vee.

I found the Rimmer's videos on replacing the Cylinder head and inlet manifold gaskets very helpful, along with the information/guidance I found on this site. Considering seven years ago I had hardly worked on a car and had to pay for any work I needed doing, to tackle a cylinder head gasket replacement is a major achievement.

Regards

Chris

[DJT]

Good news, and well done. Not the easiest of engines to start on!

[flying farmer]

Congratulations on a job well done, particularly since you didn't have much spannering experience to begin with.

Sounds like some poor quality gaskets had been fitted since they don't normally deteriorate that quickly.

Neil

[Bandit1200]

Chris
Well done on your gasket replacement.
I strongly recommend that you re-torque the heads to 60 ftlb after 500 and 1000 miles and also recommend K seal if you experience continued leak into the V.
Steve

[Scar]

Chris
Well done on your gasket replacement.
I strongly recommend that you re-torque the heads to 60 ftlb after 500 and 1000 miles and also recommend K seal if you experience continued leak into the V.
Steve

Doesn't k-seal have a reputation for gunging up flakey coolant systems?

[DJT]

Doesn't k-seal have a reputation for gunging up flakey coolant systems?

I was advised several years ago by a local guy who has rebuilt several Stag engines to chuck a bottle of K-seal in as a preventative measure. I flushed the system out 4 years ago after changing head gaskets and some K-seal residue came out. Gave it a routine flush 2 years ago and more came out. At this year’s routine flush and hose change, still more residue came out with the coolant.

Has it adversely affected the cooling system? Not that you would notice. The temperature gauge never goes above halfway on the hottest of days and most of the time the needle is at about 11 o’clock.

Has the cooling system had any leaks since I first put it in? No.

FWIW I use 30% ethylene glycol ‘blue’ antifreeze in (soft) tap water

[ChrisD]

Thanks for your comments guys.