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[bibbot]

After many long hours doing my oil cooler /countless flushes new cam seals and oil change   I see coolant dripping from the bell housing.
After poking around with a small cam and TV to look in all the hard to get to places and a good pointer from( the boy)
 I removed the heat covers from the right-hand manifold and pocking my cam up over the exhaust I can see coolant come out by the corner of the head.

There is a bit of steam at the exhaust  but no more simtoms so as
(the boy) suggest  just coolant getting out .

Do you think I mite tighten down the head if not I would like to do the one head only .

[Kevin Wood]

I wouldn't tighten it. The heads are secured by stretch bolts so they are not far from breaking when correctly installed and leakage will be down to the gasket material disintegrating rather than not being clamped hard enough.

It'd be worth taking the plenum and intakes out just to ensure you don't have a leak from the oil cooler cover plate or thermostat that's being channelled down that side of the engine.

Failing that, I'm afraid it's head off time. It's probably a false economy to do one head. Likely cause of failure is a weak coolant mixture at some point, so the other gasket will be on its' way out anyway.

Kevin

[Markjay]

I wouldn't tighten it. The heads are secured by stretch bolts so they are not far from breaking when correctly installed and leakage will be down to the gasket material disintegrating rather than not being clamped hard enough.

It'd be worth taking the plenum and intakes out just to ensure you don't have a leak from the oil cooler cover plate or thermostat that's being channelled down that side of the engine.

Failing that, I'm afraid it's head off time. It's probably a false economy to do one head. Likely cause of failure is a weak coolant mixture at some point, so the other gasket will be on its' way out anyway.

Kevin

As said... but make sure you double check that it is indeed from the head. If so, there's a good write-up in the Maintenance Guides section by JamesV6CDX.

[JamesV6CDX]

Don't do just one head, definately a false economy.

[Markjay]

Don't do just one head, definately a false economy.

Word form the man himself....  

[Marks DTM Calib]

Don't do just one head, definately a false economy.

How many did you do on that estate out of interest?

[JamesV6CDX]

Don't do just one head, definately a false economy.

How many did you do on that estate out of interest?

Both, of course, why?

I must admit, I was seriously tempted to do just one for a quick fix, however I saw the state of one gasket, and came to my senses!

[Markjay]

...and when you took-off the other head, was the gasket actually in poor state as expected?

[JamesV6CDX]

...and when you took-off the other head, was the gasket actually in poor state as expected?

What gasket?

Yes, it was that bad.... all that were left of the gaskets on both sides were the fire rings. The composite material was completely rotton.. by lack of correct antifreeze!

[Markjay]

...and when you took-off the other head, was the gasket actually in poor state as expected?

What gasket?

Yes, it was that bad.... all that were left of the gaskets on both sides were the fire rings. The composite material was completely rotton.. by lack of correct antifreeze!

Good job you took it off then....

[Marks DTM Calib]

Where as on TB's the gaskets were in excellent condition.  :-/

[bibbot]

wot do u guys think about re-using the cam cover gaskets
as there only 2 weeks old.

thanks steve

[JamesV6CDX]

wot do u guys think about re-using the cam cover gaskets
as there only 2 weeks old.

thanks steve

If they're as new as that, genuine, and it was my car, I would probably reuse them.

Just be very very careful about removal, and carefully remove and bits of black sealent, and re-fit with new sealant.