Recent top set gasket experience anyone - 850

[Brendan W]

Fairly sure that torque was being checked and repeatedly found loose and after a number of retorques it started squeezing out.

[Nessism]

Fairly sure that torque was being checked and repeatedly found loose and after a number of retorques it started squeezing out.

Yes, you are correct. Thank you for reading what I wrote. Sometimes I think I'm just writing to myself and nobody pays attention.

The gasket in question was part of a kit purchased from Parts n More a few years ago. The engine was completely rebuilt and all gasket surfaces were clean and dry, and all gaskets were applied dry as well. After the torque kept falling off despite my best efforts, the top end was removed to replace the base gasket. No actual leak occurred because I didn't allow the problem to get to that point. In total the engine covered no more than a couple tanks of fuel before the gaskets were replaced with OEM.

[zuzu]

I use OEM most of the time, but have had good results with Cometic gaskets.

[Brendan W]

Why am I seeing Will Smith refusing an Athena base gasket on the 4th of July

[ukjules]

I am so glad i never have to and never will buy OEM gaskets again.
Athena for me always now.
I am happy to recommend them.

[Brendan W]

I've just done head, base and stem seals. I was losing a litre per 400 miles from the front of the headgasket and blowing a little smoke. I bought a complete engine set of NE brand gaskets.The base was a perfect fit but the dreaded green colour. The head gasket cylinder openings were all about 1mm offcentre outboard of each cylinder and the holes for the dowels needed a bit of file work to drop cleanly onto the deck. The stem seals, I screwed up three of them tapping a socket too hard and bought an Athena set and replaced them all. The NE stem seals looked a bit lightweight compared to the Athena. Fitted them by hand pressure alone - safecracker style.
The top of the case and bottom of the barrels had a few scraping tool marks from the previous gasket job although the base was not leaking. As insurance I put two coats of aluminium paint on the base gasket. The head and top deck looked much better and the gasket went on dry. I was surprised to see machine tool marks on all four mating surfaces like an 8" facing cutter advancing at about 40 thou per rev, just about at fingernail limit.
Just over 200 miles up and looking good. Time will tell.

[Nessism]

I've just done head, base and stem seals. I was losing a litre per 400 miles from the front of the headgasket and blowing a little smoke. I bought a complete engine set of NE brand gaskets.The base was a perfect fit but the dreaded green colour. The head gasket cylinder openings were all about 1mm offcentre outboard of each cylinder and the holes for the dowels needed a bit of file work to drop cleanly onto the deck. The stem seals, I screwed up three of them tapping a socket too hard and bought an Athena set and replaced them all. The NE stem seals looked a bit lightweight compared to the Athena. Fitted them by hand pressure alone - safecracker style.
The top of the case and bottom of the barrels had a few scraping tool marks from the previous gasket job although the base was not leaking. As insurance I put two coats of aluminium paint on the base gasket. The head and top deck looked much better and the gasket went on dry. I was surprised to see machine tool marks on all four mating surfaces like an 8" facing cutter advancing at about 40 thou per rev, just about at fingernail limit.
Just over 200 miles up and looking good. Time will tell.

Have you retorqued the head nuts yet?

[Brendan W]

No. On the first pull down I could slip the thinest blade I had under the headgasket as far in as the dowel on one side. So I opened it up for a look and pulled down a second time at 30 ft-lbs. After one heat cycle the gaps were gone.
Most other heads I do I don't retorque - admittedly they are watercooled and much higher loads - torque,angle 90, 90 stuff.

[Brendan W]

Ahem ! These things kinda loosen up a bit after the first few cycles, don't they

[Brendan W]

Update; As dry as a bone.

[Nessism]

Have you retorqued the head a few times and found no falloff? If so, you should be okay (hopefully).

[Brendan W]

I retorqued after 500 and got quite a surprise. Nearly a full half turn needed.
Since then it's been ok.