95 1.9L Head or Gasket - Page 2

stepheneking · #16 10-05-2006, 01:35 AM

Cleaned the intake side of the head tonight after work. The condition of the two center intake head bolts was pretty bad. There was a big build up of what almost looked like rust, with a whiteish-yellow tint to the center intake bolts. I also noticed that the two center intake ports seemed to be pretty clean, not a lot of black residue. Really clean around the valves on those two ports. Also on the center cylinder domes on the head...I notest that the collor was almost a rust color. The first and last intake and domes looked alright, domes being where the valves are, black residue color.
I also checked out the water ports with a high powered light, looked for about two hours trying to find a crack, but was unsecessfull. I looked inside the intake and exhaust ports and was unable to see a crack, everything seemed to be in pretty good condition. Also checked around the lifters and the whole top surface of the head and was unable to find a crack. Wish I had a camera to take a picture, because I am almost certain that my problem is comming from my intake gasket. The signs are just there and my gut feeling says that is what it is.
Do you absolutley have to use band new head bolts on this head...kinda pricey...my old ones were only in there for a short time almost brand new.?
Also on the exhaust gasket, which surface do I put the metal towards? The exhaust manifold? Would apreciate, and have apreciated any and all comments

mightymoose_22 · #17 10-05-2006, 08:48 AM

I wouldn't worry too much about the new head bolts. Your new ones shouldn't have been stretched out much yet. Some people would insist on changing them, but I wouldn't worry about it. They are still new.
Usually the holes on the exhaust gasket willl only line up one way... maybe you have something generic that fits both ways though... I would think the metal side would go toward the engine... but I doubt it is a big deal either way. I have never had an exhaust gasket get stuck on my escort.

If you put it back on and all is well, consider getting an oil additive that might do a little something for some of the damage done by the water.

stepheneking · #18 10-06-2006, 03:28 AM

Well no go, guess my gut feeling was wrong. Put all new gaskets onto the head, intake and exhaust manifolds. Put it all back together filled it with water, tried to start it and it shot water out of the radiator, without the cap on. Guess the head is realy cracked, or worse. I will get a new head slap it on and find out the block was cracked. If the block is cracked it must be inside...because there is no water comming out of the block. Guess I will have to take the head to a machine shop to rule it out. Anyways good nite and sleep tight.

mightymoose_22 · #19 10-06-2006, 08:21 AM

Well it shot water out the radiator... but is there water in the oil?
It is still possible your cooling system has blockages... you siad you had been using some stop leak stuff.

If the water is staying out of the engine, then problem solved. Now you have a new problem in your cooling system to address.

If you do find water in the oil you will have to ask yourself whether it was there before you changed the gaskets or not.

stepheneking · #20 10-06-2006, 09:14 AM

No I am pretty sure that there is water in the oil...and its blowing out white smoke out the tail pipe.

mightymoose_22 · #21 10-07-2006, 12:41 AM

Right... but what I was asking was if you changed the oil again this last time you replaced the gaskets on the head. If you didn't change the oil, then there would still be water in there from the leak.

KimMG · #22 10-07-2006, 04:31 AM

mightymoose 22-

How many times can you torque the head bolts before they are stretched out of spec? The head on the motor in question has been removed and reinstalled a couple of times.

-Kimberly

KimMG · #23 10-07-2006, 04:43 AM

stepheneking-

Ask the machine shop if they can give you a discount on a gasket set since you are going to need a new one.

mightymoose_22 · #24 10-07-2006, 08:28 AM

Welllllll... you aren't "supposed to" reuse them at all. It is my own personal feeling that since they are still new and the engine has not been run very much with the new bolts in there that you are ok to reuse them.
After being torqued thebolts are suppsedly a bit weaker... how much weaker I don't know. I have reused head bolts before for similar reasons and never had a problem.
To me it is like changing your oil every 3000 miles... yes, it might be a good preventative thing to do, but isn't absolutely necessary. There are other factors that can be considered too.

Davescort97 · #25 10-07-2006, 09:11 AM

It's Sarurday. I just noticed your thread on Friday about the water shooting out of the radiator with the cap off. This is normal after refilling the cooling system. It is air pockets in the head. I just refilled my cooling system after a flush and mine gushed out of the radiator neck, too. Let the system stabilize and get up to temp before you draw any conclusions. Also, with the head off, you can detect a crack in the combusion chambers or valve ports by pouring alcohol (rubbing) into them. Make sure the head is dry before you do this. I think you'd be all right on reusing the head bolts. Just retorqe them to specs in a criss-cross fashion.

stepheneking · #26 10-08-2006, 10:05 AM

Wow thanks for all the input. I really am unsure about why the exhaust is still blowing out white smoke. The engine fires up and runs good jut white smoke... I retorked everything properly......but I do hear bubbles in the overflow when it is running you can see them too...a sure bad sign I guess....or maybe I need a new radiator cap. And no I didn't change the oil yet...I think I am still getting fluid in the oil.Thanks a bunch for everyones input

mightymoose_22 · #27 10-08-2006, 02:09 PM

Bubbles in the overflow... I can't quite make sense of that unless your system is not completely filled. Air bubbles should find their way to the top of the radiator, but I can't imagine the air getting sucked through to the overflow.

A couple things. Since you know you had water in the engine you will have to change the oil. Until you do there is no way to know if the smoke you are seeing is from water that entered before you changed the gaskets or after. Also, when you get the engine running be sure to add coolant through the overflow and not just by filling the radiator... make sure the rad cap has a good seal though.

One more thought... all the extra mosisture in the exhaust may have ruined your O2 sensor. That may need to be replaced as well. I am not sure of a way to test it though.

KimMG · #28 10-08-2006, 03:40 PM

Bubbles in the cooling system can be caused by a headgasket that is not sealing between the cumbustion chamber and the cooling jacket.

Water in the oil will destroy bearings. Do not run the car with water in the oil.
White smoke coming from the tail pipe is indicative of a failed headgasket or a cracked head.
What did the machine shop say about the condition of your head?

butch100 · #29 10-24-2006, 07:45 AM

weather you re-use your old head or get one from the bone yard have a machine shop go over it. My head did the #4
intake valve seat drop so for $150 they replaced the seat W
/a stainless steel one, reground all the valves, cleaned it
checked the cam for wear. Then buy a fel-pro gasket set
w/head bolts and you should be good to go.

stepheneking · #30 04-21-2007, 08:44 AM

Hey guys me again a lot has happened since I started to work on the darn car. Now I'm in a different state. Anyway got the head off the car again.....going to take it to the machine shop sometime this week to have it checked out....none of my replacement of gaskets fixed my problem.....but my question is.....

I've got the head totaly off the car...exhaust and intake sides off too.....is there a plug to drain my block at all? I can't seem to find one.....I realy think I should drain my block out....what do you think.....let me know if you know of a drain plug....THANKS

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