blown head gasket. pictures.

[stonyloam]

Re: blown head gasket. pictures.

If the manual says to use perfect seal, I would use that or NAPA (Permatex) aviation sealant. Sounds like the draw filing worked pretty well.

 

[Bondo]

Re: blown head gasket. pictures.

Over the weekend I filed down the head and the block surface using the draw file method. I got a straight edge and checked gaps with a feeler gauge. I cannot fit anything over a .002 feeler gauge anywhere along the block. So here are a few questions before it put it back together.

Yesterday I poured seafoam on the pistons to let it loosen the carbon / black buildup on the pistons and rings for good measure. Several hours later the seafoam was still on the pistons, so at least I could tell that the piston rings were tight enough to not allow the seafoam to drain past them.

While the motor is where it is now, is there anything else that is easy / cheap to check for or clean while the engine is torn apart to this level. Is there a way to clean the ring seats without pulling the pistons? is there any part of the 3.0L that usually has issues that is easier to get to/inspect while the head is removed that I could check out?

I bought some loctight to put on the head bolt threads. I saw someone used perfect seal, is loctight good to use on the head bolts, or will it not hold up? I assume the purpose to keep the bolts from loosening over time and or prevent liquid from coming up the threads? from my understanding loctight does just that?

Thanks everyone.

Ayuh,.... Loc-tite is a Brand name, they make, literally, Thousands of sealants, 'n glues,...

I use Permatex like Terry mentions,... It's the Same stuff as Perfect Seal,... only the brushes last longer,.....

The reason is, some of the holes are blind, 'n many are into the water jacket,...
The ones in the water jacket need Sealant,...

I put it on All of 'em, so's the torque valves will be the Same, exactly,...

Some manuals say use sealant on wet holes, 'n oil on dry holes,..... I don't buy into that,...

 

[sti1471]

Re: blown head gasket. pictures.

Can someone post a link to the NAPA permatex. When I search their site there is 5 pages of permatex products sealer products ranging from windshield sealer to gasket maker.

 

[Bondo]

Re: blown head gasket. pictures.

Can someone post a link to the NAPA permatex. When I search their site there is 5 pages of permatex products sealer products ranging from windshield sealer to gasket maker.

Ayuh,.... Aviation form-a-gasket, #3,....

 

[dan t.]

Re: blown head gasket. pictures.

Permatex thread sealant with teflon, the best thread sealant there is, it stands up on race car engines, I have used it for the last 20 years and never had a bolt leak.

 

[stonyloam]

Re: blown head gasket. pictures.

Do you have a photo of how the block came out? The head looked like it was coming along great!

 

[sti1471]

Re: blown head gasket. pictures.

yeah I will get some photos tonight and post them up. Both the head and surface came out shiny. I am excited as hell with the way it came out. Thanks for the link to the sealant. I will have to go get some today or tomorrow and use that instead of my loctight thread sealer. However I noticed it says it handles up to 400F. Does the engine head surface get hotter than 400F? I thought the head surface and surrounding areas of the cylinders got up higher than that like around 700+

I noticed though that the gasket I took off the boat was this super thin metal. the new sierra gasket I bought is a gray gasket that feels like it is made of a soft plastic or something and it is about 4-5 times as thick as the metal one. I assume this is a better choice and it is thicker which will create a better seal. However, will it raise my head height giving lower compression numbers, or will it smash down thin once I torque it down?

Anyone know what these sierra gaskets are made out of?

 

[frantically relaxing]

Re: blown head gasket. pictures.

While the motor is where it is now, is there anything else that is easy / cheap to check for or clean while the engine is torn apart to this level. Is there a way to clean the ring seats without pulling the pistons? is there any part of the 3.0L that usually has issues that is easier to get to/inspect while the head is removed that I could check out?

Don't fix what ain't broke! Messing with the pistons can un-seat the rings, and that you DON'T want!

get the job at hand finished, and go boating!

 

[sti1471]

Re: blown head gasket. pictures.

get the job at hand finished, and go boating!

This almost brought a tear to my eye!

 

[Radarman68]

Re: blown head gasket. pictures.

yeah I will get some photos tonight and post them up. Both the head and surface came out shiny. I am excited as hell with the way it came out. Thanks for the link to the sealant. I will have to go get some today or tomorrow and use that instead of my loctight thread sealer. However I noticed it says it handles up to 400F. Does the engine head surface get hotter than 400F? I thought the head surface and surrounding areas of the cylinders got up higher than that like around 700+

I noticed though that the gasket I took off the boat was this super thin metal. the new sierra gasket I bought is a gray gasket that feels like it is made of a soft plastic or something and it is about 4-5 times as thick as the metal one. I assume this is a better choice and it is thicker which will create a better seal. However, will it raise my head height giving lower compression numbers, or will it smash down thin once I torque it down?

Anyone know what these sierra gaskets are made out of?

Sounds like you had a metal gasket that I have seen on many stock engines when I pull them apart. Commonly you cant even get those metal head gaskets any longer, so replacing with a new marine composite head gasket will work just fine. the difference between the two type head gaskets is probably only about .025-.035. You will be adjusting the rockers once you get it put together and can make up the .030 difference so you should be fine.

And yep, you can run the teflon sealant just fine as well, I have used this in all of my engines over the last 15 years. the surface of the head where the bolts go should really only get up to 200 degrees or so. if they ever get higher than that, you have other problems.
Here is what I use:
http://www.amazon.com/Permatex-80633-Thread-Sealant-PTFE/dp/B000HBM49W

 

[sti1471]

Re: blown head gasket. pictures.

So is there any way to tell how good my rings are sealing while the head is off the boat? Like I said I poured seafoam on the heads 2 days ago. as of today, the seafoam is still there and has not leaked past the rings, so I know they are sealing pretty good. but if there a good way to test just how good they are sealing while I have the head off?

 

[stonyloam]

Re: blown head gasket. pictures.

I don't think so, at least not with tools at home. I would just clean it up (cylinder walls and piston tops) as well as possible. I would pour a little engine oil in each cylinder and turn it over a couple of times, then wipe it clean (especially the residue left on the cylinder walls above the rings). Do it a couple of times until the rag comes out clean, and you should be good to go. Put er back together, and get it running. Once you have it running do a compression check to see how things look. Even if the compression is a little low, go ahead and enjoy the boat for the rest of the summer and plan a rebuild in the off season. Nice job:joyous:

 

[frantically relaxing]

Re: blown head gasket. pictures.

In it's current state, there's only one way to know if the rings are sealing:

Before the gasket went, was the engine using oil? Was it blowing blue smoke?

If you answered NO to both questions, rings are fine!

And personally, I'd limit my messing-with-the-cylinders to taking a clean rag and soaking up the seafoam, taking a shopvac with a brush attachment and sucking out any filings that may have fallen in, then a final wipe with another fresh rag dobbed with some new oil.

Attach head

Test fire

Go boating

 

[sti1471]

Re: blown head gasket. pictures.

before the head was removed the engine was never blowing smoke, blue smoke, black smoke at all. I am sure they are fine, I just wanted to see if there was any tricks I can done or look for once I am this far into the engine.

I am going to take pictures and start the rebuilt tonight.

 

[sti1471]

Re: blown head gasket. pictures.

So I was cleaning the threads to put the head back on. I took a magnet and placed it down the thread holes and the main water passage on the back of the block and I keep pulling up good amounts of rust flakes. The engine had no leaks of water into the oil so I know its not rusted through. Is it normal for it to be rusty that deep into the engine? I pulled a lot out with the magnet and think I got most of it. I think I am going to dump some krud cutter must for rust in there and let it sit for an hour then suck it out with a shop vac. Krud cutter is water based so I don't think it will harm anything. If I contain the krud cutter to the block only, there are no rubber seals down there is there? The only rubber seals are in the out drive.

Any problems with my plan? I am affraid the water passages are getting clogged with flakes hurting water flow.

 

[Bondo]

Re: blown head gasket. pictures.

So I was cleaning the threads to put the head back on. I took a magnet and placed it down the thread holes and the main water passage on the back of the block and I keep pulling up good amounts of rust flakes. The engine had no leaks of water into the oil so I know its not rusted through. Is it normal for it to be rusty that deep into the engine? I pulled a lot out with the magnet and think I got most of it. I think I am going to dump some krud cutter must for rust in there and let it sit for an hour then suck it out with a shop vac. Krud cutter is water based so I don't think it will harm anything. If I contain the krud cutter to the block only, there are no rubber seals down there is there? The only rubber seals are in the out drive.

Any problems with my plan? I am affraid the water passages are getting clogged with flakes hurting water flow.

Ayuh,... That's Normal,... No need to do Anything 'bout it,...

After it's Runnin' again, pull the block drain to flush it,...

 

[sti1471]

Re: blown head gasket. pictures.

Where is the block drain?

Also I determined my core water plug has a leak behind the flywheel cover. Is a slow leak. Must the engine be pulled to access the plug or is there another way to get at it with the head removed?

Is there a sealer I can run to seal the leak or do I need to replace the plug?