Core Plug?? Please Help

[redeclipse7782]

I recently had my engine rebuilt (6 bolt 2.3 stroker) I started the car up and drove it 3 miles when I pulled over the coolant was bubling over the reservoir. I changed the lower radiator hose, thermostat, and radiator cap. Car started up and the system pressurized coolant was not over flowing.

I then notice I have coolant leaking out the front freeze plug behind the intake manifold. All freeze plugs were changed out when the engine was re-built. I also noticed there was coolant leaking out the back of the engine, but I was unable to tell if coolant is leaking out of a freeze plug in the back or the head gasket in the back.

I brought the car to the mechanic. The mechanic fixed the front freeze plug. Compression test shows 190 accross the board with wiseco pistons, cometic head gasket. There is no oil mixed with the radiator fluid either. The mechanic that is working on the car told me that he cant tell if its leaking out of the headgasket or the rear freeze plug and the only way to tell would be to take the head off and check the head gasket. He also said since the coolant bubled up then it probably destroyed the head gasket. I heard pressurizing the coolant system would show if you have leaks. Why wouldnt the mechanic pressurize the coolant system and check for leaks? Thoughts? Ideas?

 

[project_tsi]

Did it run hot?

 

[redeclipse7782]

Cant he just remove the intake manifold to change the freeze plug? He wants $600 to replace the head gasket, why would I do that if its only the freeze plug. If its the headgasket i will change it out but if its only a freeze plug I dont want to tear the whole head off. I think he said the car was running hot, but wouldnt any leak in the coolant system cause the car to run hot?

 

[redeclipse7782]

Found out a couple of things, the engine is no longer leaking coolant but under boost it is adding more pressure to the coolant system, the upper radiator hose is stretching almost an inch more. He believe the head gasket is blown and under boost it is forcing air into the coolant system. I have ARP's with the cometic headgasket and used 10w30 oil, I only torqued the head bolts down to 95ft lbs. After re-reading ARP suggests 120ftlbs when using 10w30 on the arp head studs. Could I have not tightened them down enough and air is leaking by? Should I retorque to 120ft lbs?

 

[redeclipse7782]

The head was fresh from the machine shop as well. I am using a 13lb radiator cap, is that to high? Could it not be opening to vent the pressure? The car did over heat to the point that the coolant was boiling over in the reservoir, which could have damaged the head gasket. The head gasket is the metal cometic one as well.

 

[GVR4592]

No offense but the copper gaskets suck major ass. The stop composites do better.

Did you try one or are you just saying that because you heard it from somebody?

 

[GVR4592]

The head was fresh from the machine shop as well. I am using a 13lb radiator cap, is that to high? Could it not be opening to vent the pressure? The car did over heat to the point that the coolant was boiling over in the reservoir, which could have damaged the head gasket. The head gasket is the metal cometic one as well.

If the gasket is indeed blown, then the head needs to come off. The head will need to be resurfaced, make sure that the machine shop resurface's it to a finish of 50RA or better. If they don't know what RA is or how to check it, then find a different machine shop. If it isn't resurfaced to Cometic's specs, it's going to leak.

 

[GVR4592]

I've read the whole thing, and the thread is about SCE copper gaskets. In my opinion almost all of the issues are related to machine work, installation, and tuning. Since you have no experience with the gasket you shouldn't be saying that it sucks major ass.

 

[92awddsm]

Found out a couple of things, the engine is no longer leaking coolant but under boost it is adding more pressure to the coolant system, the upper radiator hose is stretching almost an inch more. He believe the head gasket is blown and under boost it is forcing air into the coolant system. I have ARP's with the cometic headgasket and used 10w30 oil, I only torqued the head bolts down to 95ft lbs. After re-reading ARP suggests 120ftlbs when using 10w30 on the arp head studs. Could I have not tightened them down enough and air is leaking by? Should I retorque to 120ft lbs?

Retorque the head and see if that takes care of the problem. Torque it to arp's spec and only do one bolt at a time(loosen and retorque then go to the next bolt) and follow the tightening sequence. I have see instances where studs werent torqued properly and created a leak but not to the point where the head had to come back off unless it was moderately overheated.. I also suggest retorquing when the engine is at operating temperature.

 

[redeclipse7782]

Car is still running extremely hot, gets up to 220 degrees, coolant system is pressurizing to the point that the upper radiator hose swells out an inch. What could cause this to happen. I heard about coolant reservoir issues, where the line has fallen out??? I have my coolant reservoir bottle moved to below the intake, behind the bumper. Should I move it back to the stock location? Also I dont think I drained the extra coolant out of the coolant reservoir I think it might be topped off, I am going to go dump some out and see what happens.

 

[topstreet]

People run the Cometics time and time again and get more than 3 miles. Even reusing them 3-4 times and never running into issues.

A pressure tester is only going to work so well on a boosted car. It tests the pressure in the coolant system at 15, 20, 25 psi MAYBE... It has nothing on the 190 psi of a CRANKING engine. Even more, it is no where close to the stroked motor under boost.

If your HG was installed right then dont worry so much. Try retorqueing it. The only reason I could see causing the gasket to leak (if the machining is done right) would be something like a dowel being too long and not letting the head torque down enough.

 

[redeclipse7782]

I used the arp head studs with 10w30 on the threads and I only torqued them down to 75ftlbs (should have been 120) Since it wasn't torqued down enough I think coolant leaked by and damaged the gasket. I tired re-torqueing them to 120lbs, but I think the damage has already been done.

 

[redeclipse7782]

I used the arp head studs with 10w30 on the threads and I only torqued them down to 75ftlbs (should have been 120) Since it wasn't torqued down enough I think coolant leaked by and damaged the gasket. I tired re-torqueing them to 120lbs, but I think the damage has already been done, possibly even warped the head. I ordered the mitsu mls gasket and new arp head studs. I am going to pull the head off and have it checked to see if its warped. Its just 1 thing after another, this sux.

 

[topstreet]

I dont think the studs will need replacing. Maybe pulling the head will uncover what is going on.

Good luck to you!

 

[1gnasty]

yes when using 10/30 oil should be torque down to 120tq

 

[redeclipse7782]

Pulled the head off, heres what it looked like when I pulled it off then after I cleaned it up.

 

[1gnasty]

everything looks good just wait for the mitsu gasket retorque the head to 120tq
and u should be good to go