richiep
Club Member
Here's one for the engine builders: what process/products do you use for cleaning up a block deck and head face during a head gasket change?
I'm part way through addressing the seeping gasket issue I've had for years and head is now off. I've got plenty of products and tools on the go but wanted to see if anyone had any particular tricks or approaches that work for them to get to nice clean gasket-friendly surfaces?
FYI, it's been quite illuminating. Although the coolant seepage down the RHD side of the block has been minimal (usually when cold), the evidence of a growing internal threat was there once the head was removed. There was some evidence of coolant on the head bolts and in their threaded holes into the block. A small amount of mingling of water and oil was occurring around the outer reaches of the gasket in those areas. Thankfully nothing near the bores though. There's a terrible amount of scraping and cleaning required though (this on an engine with only about 10k miles on it). Looks like ****! Pistons wiped off very easily though.
Head is being stripped over the next few days and then will be checked for warpage. There isn't much room to skim though, given if I remember correctly it's had 2mm off already; hopefully minimal to no warpage...
I'm part way through addressing the seeping gasket issue I've had for years and head is now off. I've got plenty of products and tools on the go but wanted to see if anyone had any particular tricks or approaches that work for them to get to nice clean gasket-friendly surfaces?
FYI, it's been quite illuminating. Although the coolant seepage down the RHD side of the block has been minimal (usually when cold), the evidence of a growing internal threat was there once the head was removed. There was some evidence of coolant on the head bolts and in their threaded holes into the block. A small amount of mingling of water and oil was occurring around the outer reaches of the gasket in those areas. Thankfully nothing near the bores though. There's a terrible amount of scraping and cleaning required though (this on an engine with only about 10k miles on it). Looks like ****! Pistons wiped off very easily though.
Head is being stripped over the next few days and then will be checked for warpage. There isn't much room to skim though, given if I remember correctly it's had 2mm off already; hopefully minimal to no warpage...