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    EJ8 head gasket issue

    http://www.cb7tuner.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=210514

    ^^ I am sure most of you guys have seen this^^

    I got the car together and it didnt have the power it should have. It was using coolant and having a hard time starting. I took the radiator cap off and started it, right when it fired the compression leaking immediately caused coolant to shoot out and spray everywhere. I came to the conclusion the head gasket was leaking really bad
    This is the surface of the block and head before i put it together







    I thought that was clean enough. I cleaned the block and head with 3m pads by hand.
    I did not get new head bolts, I have reused them on on f series and j series motors with no issue. I dont like how the civic bolts only call for 49 foot pounds. I feel like i needed to keep cranking.
    when i started torquing them down i realized my torque wrench was not working so I tightened some up to try and get it to click. I went over on some on the first step but not by much. when I realized my torque wrench was bad i borrowed by brothers and went threw in the proper order to the proper foot pounds. The first step some where overdone from the previous wrench not working but on the 2nd and 3rd step they all turned then clicked in the proper order,I went threw them all again tightening them to the wimpy required 49 lbs.

    That obviously didnt work so i pulled the head off after maybe driving 30 miles and this is what it looked like






    The head come off the old motor in my car and it was never overheated. My car never even got hot with this issue so im pretty sure its true, i am going to check it to be safe. I have never seen a block warp. Could my issue tightening the bolts have done it or could it have been from reusing the old bolts? do head gaskets just sometimes not seal?
    Last edited by thepowderblue; 10-08-2018, 12:07 AM.
    Green EX http://www.cb7tuner.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=176536
    93 SE http://www.cb7tuner.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=210486

    #2
    you can check the bolt stretch by a service manual. they are usually cheap to replace. ive only reused arp studs never bolts. also, that head could be warped. "sanding" it by hand probably didnt help either. drop it off at a machine shop and have them pressure check it and deck it to be sure. i had a k20a2 head done for 40$. its cheap insurance. my j35a3 heads have been on and off many times and every time i take them by the machine shop.

    also, if you have a straight edge and feeler gauges, you can check the block surface for warpage too.

    what brand head gasket is that? i only use oem gaskets for that repair.
    COUPE K24

    Comment


      #3
      Totally agree with what was said above. Everytime I remove the head I get the head decked and I also use copper head gasket spray to ensure it seals all the small imperfections on either the block or head.
      ~Nick~
      FSAE (F Series Accord Enthusiasts) ..."A dying breed thats taking it to the next level" Lucky #13
      MR Thread:http://www.cb7tuner.com/vbb/showthre...ight=Grumpys93

      Comment


        #4
        I am going to check it with a straight edge but I'm pretty sure it's true, it came off my y8 that ran perfect . if its not the head or block would the bolts or how I tightened it down cause it?
        Green EX http://www.cb7tuner.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=176536
        93 SE http://www.cb7tuner.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=210486

        Comment


          #5
          Originally posted by thepowderblue View Post
          I am going to check it with a straight edge but I'm pretty sure it's true, it came off my y8 that ran perfect . if its not the head or block would the bolts or how I tightened it down cause it?

          Assuming this all worked prior, have to agree with the above. At this point a pro shop is required. It only takes 0.0001 for a problem to start, which leads to catastrophic damage. I've seen folks do "home made" methods though. I remember one guy had sand paper taped to a (level) glass table. He side the head around in different directions which I can see working. Engine block was too heavy for the table :P

          Comment


            #6
            Originally posted by thepowderblue View Post
            I am going to check it with a straight edge but I'm pretty sure it's true, it came off my y8 that ran perfect . if its not the head or block would the bolts or how I tightened it down cause it?
            could simply be the head bolts have stretched beyond the service limit. if you torque them to 40lbs if the bolt is longer than specified, its not gonna be 40lbs. buy a quality (oem) head gasket and new bolts and have the head checked.
            COUPE K24

            Comment


              #7
              It's .005 off. So im going to have it resurfaced and i ordered some ARP head studs
              Last edited by thepowderblue; 10-10-2018, 01:50 AM.
              Green EX http://www.cb7tuner.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=176536
              93 SE http://www.cb7tuner.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=210486

              Comment

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