Diagnosing pulled heads

[DorianL]

Could it be not enough sealant on head bolts????

Tear down... Nothing suspicious so far...

Gasket looked ok...

5 and 7 chambers however...

Around chambers of 5 and 7 look cleaner... Intake of 7 looks gummed up with a tar-like substance... what is that?
Clean everything up and replace gasket or recommend further steps???

 

[grumpyvette]

It could be just a flaw in the photo but it looks like theres a minor a crack between the valves just a bit higher than the closest tangential location between the valve seats in this photo..and minor steam cutting on the lower 4-5 o'clock area on the #3 cylinder picture, on the right hand cylinder (#3??).if there is any good head shop can re-weld and re-machine the valve seat area and you'll be good as new!
theres a TEST.
have a good cylinder head shop inspect the heads for flaws

http://www.enginebuildermag.com/Article ... ology.aspx

http://www.locknstitch.com/Repair%20pdf ... amples.pdf

http://www.enginebuildermag.com/Article ... pairs.aspx

http://www.enginebuildermag.com/Article ... heads.aspx

viewtopic.php?f=52&t=3956


BTW NICE PICTURES TO DOCUMENT THE PROCESS

 

[DorianL]

Sorry I was talking about 5 & 7 that had a cleaner shrouded area... Is that cleanliness in shrouded area on 7 and tarred intake valve normal?

I looked closer at the crack... It think it is just caked soot flaking. I don't see anything... Will take head in to machine shop.

 

[grumpyvette]

the cleaner area in the combustion chamber is probably the result of steam cleaning in the cylinder,(coolant leaking into the cylinder and being burnt, along with the f/a mix)
the (TAR) is a mix of ash and oil residue. usually the result of a slightly richer a/f ratio and some ring seal or valve guide oil leakage.

viewtopic.php?f=52&t=3956

 

[DorianL]

This is steam cleaning then? Failed gasket?

 

[grumpyvette]

This is steam cleaning then? Failed gasket?

NO that looks fine, the exhaust valve always runs hotter and tends to be a bit cleaner

this picture looks like the combustion chambers have been steam cleaned


I can,t inspect the heads with a magnifying glass
but the coolant must have come from
a failed gasket,
a cracked head or
a cracked block,
so its just a mater of close inspection to find the sources

 

[DorianL]

Not quite, quite clear... That clean area is steamed? Correct? That's not normal, right?

Will search very carefully for crack with a magnifying glass... Solvent to clean?

 

[grumpyvette]

Not quite, quite clear... That clean area is steamed? Correct? That's not normal, right?

Will search very carefully for crack with a magnifying glass... Solvent to clean?

thats not normal
and spray carb cleaner and a magnifying glass , and a stiff tooth brush,may be required to locate the source
and remember the source may be UNDER the seated valve
but its more likely just a leaking head gasket, so carefully inspect, the gasket head to block sealing area.

 

[DorianL]

Awesome!!!!! Thanks!!! Glad to know that's not normal... I know where to start looking and know where the steam out tailpipe was coming from...

Thanks!!!!

 

[DorianL]

Scrub, scrub, scrub...

 

[Indycars]

Scrub, scrub, scrub...

Work don't bother me, I can lay right down beside it and go to sleep!