Stretched Head Bolts/oil filter blowout

[meandmytsi]

I replaced the head gasket on my car and used the same head bolts. This is the third time that the bolts have been used. Now I am getting white smoke coming out of my valve cover breather as well as the exhaust. It doesn't smell like coolent but I guess it could be. Also Since I have had the motor back together the car is running rough.It's not like the timing is off it's almost like there is something wrong inside of the motor. And it also keeps blowing the rubber gaskets off of my oil filters. I have used 2. 1 each time I have tried to drive the car .

 

[Jehu]

You shouldn't be using your stock headbolts that many time. I'd change it everytime, but that's just me. The stock bolts are torqued to yield, i.e. it permanently deforms.

 

[kristmen]

Question. Are you still using the stock 91 oil cooler setup?

Have you checked your oil filter housing, oil cooler bolt?

When my oil cooler seal became old and dried out, it became loose and I keep having my oil filter come loose too which would in turn cause the oil filter seals to blow out so to speak. They would start leaking really bad and in come cases the leaks pressure would rip the seal.

Also I noticed white crap in my oil, around the oil cap which was coolant mixing into the oil due to the leak between the oil filter housing and the oil filter cooler.

Most likely not the problem but I figured what the hell might at well mention it.

Those 91 oil cooler seals suck ass if you don't change them and check the torque on the cooler bolt once in a while.

Btw incase you don't know what bolt I mean, the thing the oil filter screw onto is a large hollow bolt and it does become loose sometimes as the cooler seal ages.

 

[Defiant]

The two problems aren't related. You may have a leaking head gasket from not going with fresh bolts, and the oil filter/cooler stud may be loose:

http://vfaq.com/mods/oilcool.html

 

[meandmytsi]

I went out and took the oil filter off. I also took the bolt out of the cooler housing. It was easy to do since I didn't even need any tools to do it. I just took the bolt out with my fingers. This could be some of the problem. I am still wondering about the head bolts though. Is there any way to replace the head bolts without disassembling the whole top end of the motor again?

 

[Shadowfax]

I am still wondering about the head bolts though. Is there any way to replace the head bolts without disassembling the whole top end of the motor again?

yes. You take off the vavle cover, remove the head bolts- and install new ones. You don't need to take off the head to change the bolts...

HOWEVER- you do need to take it all apart if you'd like to change the gasket. In your case I'd install new head bolts first. IF that fixes your problem, great. IF NOT - then you only wasted like 30 minutes of time trying it first... course... using torque to yield bolts- you probably just ruined them...

So instead install head STUDS... that way this isn't an issue next time