

| Subject: | head compression leak again!#$%! |
| From: | Mark Gajewski |
| Date: | Wed, 9 Feb 2000 18:21:50 -0500 |
Well, after a very quite several months my head is leaking....again. I'm rather frustrated by this recurring problem and am wondering if either I am doing something wrong (very likely) or if there is some other problem (also very likely). Here is the background for anyone who is able to offer me some guidance: - Van is an '85 GL 1.9L with 120K - Bought van used at 65K. Heads looked recently resealed as the sealant goop oozing out from around the rubber looked pretty clean and new - At 85K the water pump bearings blew on the interstate and I wasn't circulating H20 other than out the back of the van. Replaced water pump road side and drove 400 miles home with a plugged/melted CAT that created excessive back pressure. My stupidity in driving the van without hacksawing off the CAT or the prior overheating resulted in a blown compression seal that was pressurizing the coolant with engine gases so I replaced both head gaskets, again this was at 85K - At 100K I started getting engine gas pressurized coolant again and pulled the left head first where I found coolant inside the back left cylinder (#4? I think). Anyway, to save time and money I replaced only the left head gasket and didn't touch the right figuring that the coolant told me where the problem was. I was correct and that fixed the problem. - At 108K same damn problem. I pulled both heads, had them rebuilt, checked for cracks and flatness and everything checked out perfectly. Back on they went with new gaskets. Problem solved. -Now, I'm at 120K and the other morning my heater starts blowing cold/hot/cold/hot and temp gauge is fluctuating. Take a look at coolant....same darn problem, it's getting pressurized by the engine gases again. Each reseal I took extra special care to torque head bolts exactly per spec. Last time I even let the van run for a day or two and then went back in to retorque just in case. Any suggestions? I feel that maybe driving with the melted CAT plugging my exhaust did me in, but nothing appears to be wrong with the heads. Also, I'm betting 100 to 1 it's the left side again. Why always that one stupid head? Can I retorque or extra torque the heads now, 12K after the last reseal in hopes of stopping the leak? Any help, mechanical or spiritual, is greatly appreciated. Thanks, Mark
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