head gasket

[Trueblood]

guys i have blown 2 head gaskets in a month. its keeps leaking in the same spot. You think that i could use some rtv to help seal it better

[Kfreak]

If you keep blowing head gaskets then you have a warped head. get another head or have your original shaved.

[mikecrts]

Is it the base gasket under the cylinders or the valve cover gasket? Are you making sure to clean all the old gasket off first? Also make sure the tourqe specs are corret on the bolts and chek the area of the leak for any cracks or anything that could be causing the gasket to fail.

[arsenic]

Copper gasket spray help a little. But if you keep blowing head gaskets, you should probably figure out why. +1 on the warped cylinder head. Any automotive machine shop can mill that for flatness. It'll run you like $40-$75 bucks.

[Trueblood]

Is it the base gasket under the cylinders or the valve cover gasket? Are you making sure to clean all the old gasket off first? Also make sure the tourqe specs are corret on the bolts and chek the area of the leak for any cracks or anything that could be causing the gasket to fail.

tis the base gasket. and yea all the old gasket it off

[arsenic]

Wait, the "base" gasket, or the head gasket? They are two very different things. I think that post just confused you. I doubt you'd notice if you blew a base gasket. And that's a pain in the nuts to replace.

[Trueblood]

its not the valve cover gasket. its the one at the cylinders. and its not really blown just leaks passed the gasket. i replaced it once and it was fine for like 2k miles now its doing it again. if the head was warped wouldnt it leak all the time

[hardlydangerous]

Where is it leaking?

did you replace the orings?

dont forget if the valve cover gasket leaks around the spark plug holes, it will leak down the sparkplug holes and out the drain hole that comes out just slight above the head gasket. if it leaks it wil run along the head gasket and look just like a head gasket leak.

to check it, remove the spark plug wires, clean the spark plug holes really well with carb cleaner or brake cleaner, also the cylinder head, then run it for a bit and check it for any oil in the spark plug holes or around the drail holes.

[manowar1313]

Sounds like you may have overtightened the bolts.

[squiggy]

What brand/manufacture are you using for the head gasket?

[steves]

You should check the mounting surfaces for true using a known good straight edge across the head.

[Trueblood]

thanks for all the help guys, i torqued to spec, and i am using a top end kit from dennis kirk. I will give the valve cover gasket a look. Thanks again