Blown HG after 500mi

[andrewjscott]

I just blew my head gasket after 500 miles....I used the topline rebuild kit and was wondering if anybody else had trouble with their head gasket. I didn't even get to turn up the boost! Also, for my new head gasket, any suggestions.

 

[Goobdog]

What does the gasket look like ? What do the plugs look like ?

 

[andrewjscott]

have not removed anything yet. I have white smoke comming up the exhaust, you put your hand on it and it will condense to water. I went to do a compression test and as soon as i took out spark plug #2, steam came out. The compression test yeilded low compression in #2. All signs point to HG.

 

[urcnjoe]

Was your head decked to make sure it was not warped?

 

[andrewjscott]

it was

 

[vr6chris]

Check the torque specs on the head studs. Possible, that you did not torque them down correctly. Is the gasket that you used metal or copper?

 

[urcnjoe]

Another possibility is if you re-used your old head studs, they might be stretched and your torquing them down to spec, but they are actually not sealing properly. New ARP studs would be a great idea if not already done.

 

[andrewjscott]

I torqued, and then rechecked them when I reinstalled the engine.

 

[nc90awd]

did you check the head for warpage? Use a straight edge and feeler guage. Also the stock head bolts should never be reused because they stretch. I would recomend getting the head milled, use ARP head studs and a mitsubishi metal head gasket. Make sure the head and block are completely clean and follow tightening order and tourqe settings. That will let you run lots of boost. The stock type head gaskets are not good for much boost.

 

[andrewjscott]

head was milled, i did check it with a straight edge and it was as straight as can be. I did buy brand new head bolts, even though I've read that they can be reused (with some debate). The stock type HG arn't good for much boost...fair enough, but I was only running stock boost (12psi)

 

[nc90awd]

if there are any nicks in the head or block like from setting the head down on concrete or trying to pry the head off with a flathead it may not seal good. I have seen people use a flat grinding stone on the gasket surfaces

 

[andrewjscott]

well, after it got decked it went straight on the head, it sat in the front seat of my truck to my house, and then straight on the car....i don't even think it touched my bench. What I am wondering is has anybody else had problems with specifically topline head gaskets?

 

[nc90awd]

I have never used topline but my first HG replacement I used an auto parts store hg (felpro I think) and didn't boost past stock reusing my stock head bolts and it lasted about 1500 miles

 

[94Jettameowpsst]

I would DEFINITELY recommend checking the head studs. Thats what was causing my coolant loss and loss of power

 

[nc90awd]

when you mill the head it raises cylinder pressure and it could have been milled before and also check to see if a coolant passage may be clogged like your heatercore or something

 

[trauma2]

Did you re torque your head bolts after initial engine warm up? Head bolts are notorious for loosing torque after first time the engine is started due to expansion and contraction.

 

[andrewjscott]

I don't think the head has been milled before, but its a possibility. As for the head studs, i checked them, and they're torqued, and arn't they blind anyway, so how could coolent be seeping though. The coolent system flows smoothly, flushed everything while i was rebuilding it. I've been searching around and seems like the topline HG's are junk. I think I might look at gettin the OEM Mitsu HG.

 

[94Jettameowpsst]

Just get a felpro and arp studs then torque em to like 90-100 ft lbs.....you probably wont blow it again unless your head is warped

 

[nc90awd]

the mitsu 4 layer is thicker for milled heads and you know its quality cause it comes from mitsubishi and its only $90 and the ARP are worth buying because they are reusable and only $90 as well. That combo on a six bolt lets you get full potential on stock internals

 

[andrewjscott]

Well, car puffs white smoke pretty bad on start up until I reach regular operating temp. Then no smoke, at all, boost, no boost, idle, decel, nothing. not even vapor on my hand when i feel the exhasut gas. Is this normal for a blown headgasket, or should I be looking elsewhere.

 

[ddavisaf]

Just get a felpro and arp studs then torque em to like 90-100 ft lbs.....you probably wont blow it again unless your head is warped

You realize that you're only supposed to torque them to about 65-70 ft lbs right? You torque lug nuts to 90-100 ft lbs....
Big difference.....

Did you run a compression test? What are the results?

 

[94Jettameowpsst]

You can torque arp studs to 90-100 ft/lbs....search around, you'll understand

 

[andrewjscott]

Did you run a compression test? What are the results?

yes, results from tranny to tbelt
150 130 130 130

Pretty sad considering the engine has only 500 miles on it. Would a result like that low be normal as the rings are still seating? I don't know what to make of it, and any help would be appreaciated.

 

[Goobdog]

Your rings dont take that long to seal, what kind of break in did you do ? Also if your headgasket was blown it wouldnt show those kind of compression numbers, unless the cylinder had oil in it. My motor doesnt even have 100 miles on it and it shows 185 across on a cold motor, but I did a hard break in.

 

[andrewjscott]

used regular 10-30 oil, did an oil change after 200 mi. Couldn't be too hard on the car as I had to break in my new clutch as well. But i've read that lots of hard decel is good, been doing that. Oil looks great, still clear, not burning any what so ever. What would cause my compression numbers to be so evenly low? and if not the headgasket; where could this coolent that comes out my exhaust be comming from?