Externally Leaking Headgasket

[Spoony]

So seems my BFii T has an external weeping headgasket rear on exhaust side.

A quick search and it appears this has happened to others. (Design fail?)

It's not yet pouring or dripping but tensioning the exhaust manifold and turbo bolts I can see where it's weeping and wetness down the block. Have noticed coolent res dropping slowly too over time.

Does this seemingly 'semi common' issue all of a sudden get worse? Ie don't drive it at all etc or more an annoyance?

(Guessing the latter as I think its been like this for maybe a year haha)

What's usual cost to do a Headgasket?

Any tricks for young players to watch out for if doing it at home?

I think the timing cover is also weeping oil so would be the time to do that also.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk

[Kroozin]

Maybe try pulling off the rocker cover and retorque all your head bolts.

I can't remember which order they are supposed to be retorqued though

[Spoony]

Aren't the headbolts Torque to Yield though? Ie shouldn't be reused/tensioned?

[arronm]

Just had one done at Ford $2500 drive in drive out. Leaking at same place as yours.

[Spoony]

Cheers, not cheap but I guess includes all gaskets, head bolts etc.

Seems it's a 'fault' with design though when happens across multiple cars? Is it turbo only in this spot or both?

I do wonder when doing it what else would be good to do at the same time. The car is fairly mild, 10psi LPG tune with about 288-307rwkw (pick a dyno haha) . Has 226,000km on it. The front timing cover I think has a weep so figure one would do that at the same time, and maybe a crank seal?

Anything else, water pump perhaps? Oil pump or non issue (I never limiter bounce it as peak power is like 4950 with the above tune).

I was just considering using some of that CarGo Seal up, it's worked well I other cars through the years and doesn't seem to clog anything (as you don't leave it in) . After all it is just an external weep.

[timwds]

My BFII Turbo has been leaking for about 6 months now just above exhaust port #5 and #2 with 130K on it.

[turbotrana]

As much as I hate the leak sealers and have never used them, I think they could work in this instance. The leak area is not subject to combustion pressure only coolant pressure of 20psi. VN/Vt commodores have these brown pellets that you put in the radiator to stop minor weeps and I would be inclinded to try two or three of theses to seal it up, if that fails have a look on the net for a sealer that seems to work.

If the leak is subject to combustion pressure or gasket has rusted away then these things do not work, but if its a weep from a water jacket and the gasket is intact (which it is in this area) then a sealer can work.

I have actually put 3Bond sealant on the cometic headgasket to address the leak in this area as IMO you can't expect a steel headgasket to effectively seal water jackets, esp in this area of the block.

Edited 24/06/14 07:06 AM by turbotrana

[gaz097]

I would go the sealant option. Mine was weeping and when I pulled the head of for a rebuild the gasket still visually looked alright. There was small pitting on the edge put nothing bad. if I was going to just reassemble the motor I wouldn't have botherd with decking the block or anything. I know it is a pain in the Ass but I would be looking at a sealant of metal bond option.

[turbotrana]

I would also consider retorquing the head bolts. Maybe put studs in and replace them 1 by 1 and torquing pretty tight like 90-100 ft lb. As the previous poster said the gasket will normally look OK but if the head comes off I would check the straighness of the block and head but would be inclined to machine the head regardless in this instance.

I think that the head is a little hollow (water jackets) in this area which does not help.

[gaz097]

There tty so u will need new studs. U will have the cams out and such to get to the head bolts so u will be that close it would be best to go with a new gasket. Seems a lot of work for a leak that for me, didnt change the coolant level for 2 years.