new head gasket leaking coolant!

[325ix]

well there should be dried up coolant marks around the block where it is seeping.

It only ran for 15min. before it blew. I removed the head about 6hrs later.

[Ninz30]

I think that may be my problem, or the water pump gasket. My headgasket was in perfect condition when I pulled it off, the head was flat and clean.

well there should be dried up coolant marks around the block where it is seeping.

[325ix]

I think that may be my problem, or the water pump gasket. My headgasket was in perfect condition when I pulled it off, the head was flat and clean.

[Ninz30]

No, the thermostat housing mounts to the head and there is a gasket. Part #4 on http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...59&hg=11&fg=35

ummm...YEAH!!! :-)

pic two: part #4. is the gasket you need.

i stand corrected :D

[Ceeker]

wait I'm confused the t-stat mounts to the block, but there is no gasket between them.

ummm...YEAH!!! :-)

pic two: part #4. is the gasket you need.

[jlevie]

wait I'm confused the t-stat mounts to the block, but there is no gasket between them.

No, the thermostat housing mounts to the head and there is a gasket. Part #4 on http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...59&hg=11&fg=35

[Ninz30]

Well, it isn't either of those. I had a machine shop check it yesterday. Could the gasket where the thermostat mounts to the cylinder head cause a substantial leak?

wait I'm confused the t-stat mounts to the block, but there is no gasket between them.

[SkiFree]

what kinda HG did you use?

I'mma just leave this here....

http://www.e30tech.com/forum/showthread.php?t=82138

Is that crap still circulating the internet?

I've sold whatever gaskets somebody asks for be it VR, Elring, Goetze, BMW. I've seen enough of each of them fail to warrant that the majority of the issues stem from the installer. VR has had a slightly higher failure rate, but typically it's on a turbo engine. Each one can have their personal preference, but to claim their preference as fact is just someone trying to sound self-important.

Of course this doesn't apply when you start adding forced induction.

[325ix]

The block would have had to have pretty noticeable deposits on it to cause that.

Best guess, either the head is cracked or it isn't flat. That is assuming that you used new head bolts and torqued them per spec.

Well, it isn't either of those. I had a machine shop check it yesterday. Could the gasket where the thermostat mounts to the cylinder head cause a substantial leak?

[Ninz30]

The block would have had to have pretty noticeable deposits on it to cause that.

Best guess, either the head is cracked or it isn't flat. That is assuming that you used new head bolts and torqued them per spec.

Well i seriously doubt the head is cracked. The coolant is seeping from both sides of the block where the head meets the block. Also the car has not over heated nor has it leaked a substantial amount of coolant. I believe it was a combination of not resurfacing the head and the cheap Victor Reinz gasket.

[Irish1]

PM'ed you

It is stupid not to resurface the head before installing. Even if the head is in good condition, the surface warps and is no longer perfectly flat. Don't try to re-torque the head bolts as they are TTY and are only good once. Pull the head off and get it resurfaced and get a new head gasket and bolts and try it again. Also make sure to clean deck surface of the block. I always use a premium sharpening stone to make the surface true.

[jlevie]

I just had my decked, or so I thought. The mechanic said it was flat. However, I blew out a new headgasket just two days ago. Could my block and head not be clean enough? I got it pretty damn clean.

The block would have had to have pretty noticeable deposits on it to cause that.

Best guess, either the head is cracked or it isn't flat. That is assuming that you used new head bolts and torqued them per spec.

[325ix]

I just had my decked, or so I thought. The mechanic said it was flat. However, I blew out a new headgasket just two days ago. Could my block and head not be clean enough? I got it pretty damn clean.

[Ninz30]

what kinda HG did you use?

I'mma just leave this here....

http://www.e30tech.com/forum/showthread.php?t=82138

+2 thanks for the link. i did use a VR set. I've looked up the OEM gasket from bmw. i will def go that route next

[nando]

I agree with Myster-e, there is no issue with reusing the timing belt and tensioner in your case since they're almost new.

agreed, done it more than once. There's absolutely no reason to throw away a couple thousand mile belt and tensioner - it's not harmed at all by tensioning it. The things that affect the belt are mileage and age.