Victor Reinz headgasket starting to fail after only 20k??

[2mAn]

So I pulled everything apart on Thursday, dropped the head off Thursday. Machine shop made sure the head was flat and I got it back Friday. Put it all back together on Saturday along with a new timing belt. I ran some ATF through the system, but I will be changing the oil again in ~2 weeks again. Car fired up right away and seems to be running good. Still need to get all the air pockets out of the coolant system, but once thats done I should be good.

[2mAn]

I dont think I want to, but I read that the Metric Blue headbolts can be reused??? I am wondering if that is a good idea, my other alternative is to use the new Victor Reinz headbolts. thoughts?

[ForcedFirebird]

yeah I meant pan not pump too.

Yeah but I'd rather not risk that move not so worried about the rotation as much as getting back to tdc.

Thanks for the laugh tonight. I just spit a little beer through my nose.

[vert_this]

How do you use the oil pump to pump if it's off? The oil pump drive has no contact with anything when the belt is off ;)

In fact, there's a trick to rotating your cam/head independently on an inline without worrying about vale to pistons contact.

yeah I meant pan not pump too.

Yeah but I'd rather not risk that move not so worried about the rotation as much as getting back to tdc.

[ForcedFirebird]

yeah works fine with pump and pan off but I never have thought of using it on the front of the motor, I don't like doing anything that turns anything on the front of the motor.

How do you use the oil pump to pump if it's off? The oil pump drive has no contact with anything when the belt is off ;)

In fact, there's a trick to rotating your cam/head independently on an inline without worrying about vale to pistons contact.

[vert_this]

I said exactly how to do it. Pour a gallon on ATF in your engine, same way you put oil in it and spin the pump. The oil pump is driven by the timing belt, no need to pull the pan. In fact most all engines have a way to prime it before running it.

I have done this with the pan off (engine on stand) by placing the sump pick up in a jug of fluid, but it makes a real mess when it drains back.

yeah works fine with pump and pan off but I never have thought of using it on the front of the motor, I don't like doing anything that turns anything on the front of the motor with belt off. ATF does a good job of removing moisture. I wouldn't recommend doing this to a sludged up motor though. It will bust junk loose and have it loose in the motor=not good.

[Mfever]

Most of the people here are cheap or are getting by on a budget. the one from the dealer is $80-110, the Erling whole set is less than that and the Goetze is like $20. However after seeing all of them side by side the BMW one is hands down better than all the others.

yep... they just don't see that if you pay the premium price for the superior gasket, you won't have to take your head off 100 times either...

[ForcedFirebird]

how are u doing this on an m20? u pulling the pan off? just wondering.

I said exactly how to do it. Pour a gallon on ATF in your engine, same way you put oil in it and spin the pump. The oil pump is driven by the timing belt, no need to pull the pan. In fact most all engines have a way to prime it before running it.

I have done this with the pan off (engine on stand) by placing the sump pick up in a jug of fluid, but it makes a real mess when it drains back.

[vert_this]

Put a gallon of ATF in your engine with a fresh filter. Take the t-belt off the oil pump drive. Use a drill with a socket on it to drive the oil pump, the ATF will get pumped through the engine and clean everything out. Drain it again and do the same with fresh oil.

how are u doing this on an m20? u pulling the pan off? just wondering.

[Cabriolet]

Why not just get an oe gasket from the dealer... put it in and forget about it. absolute best imo...

Most of the people here are cheap or are getting by on a budget. the one from the dealer is $80-110, the Erling whole set is less than that and the Goetze is like $20. However after seeing all of them side by side the BMW one is hands down better than all the others.

[Mfever]

Why not just get an oe gasket from the dealer... put it in and forget about it. absolute best imo...

[efficient]

I bought a victor reinz then seen threads on how they failed so I bought a goatze with copper spray. Hope it lasts

[2mAn]

Put a gallon of ATF in your engine with a fresh filter. Take the t-belt off the oil pump drive. Use a drill with a socket on it to drive the oil pump, the ATF will get pumped through the engine and clean everything out. Drain it again and do the same with fresh oil.

Can I do this after putting it all back together? Im ripping the car apart today and will be putting it back together this weekend. Timing belt will be off so it would be easy to flush the system with ATF and then install the new one

no love for Goetze?

Goetze is one I am replacing the VR with and the one most people are recommending.... ;)

[Mr. Burns]

no love for Goetze?

I've pushed 12psi on a Goetze on my 1st boosted e30, for 2 summers and the HG never failed.

[ForcedFirebird]

Just to give you a comparison of how bad this shit is, this was the first hint of what was coming. An oil change I did on 12/16/12



oil change I just did



Head is coming off this Thursday

Anyone know what I could use to clean out the shit from the motor once the fresh headgasket is on there? I heard Lubrimoly has something, also heard something about ATF, but Ive never dealt with this before

Put a gallon of ATF in your engine with a fresh filter. Take the t-belt off the oil pump drive. Use a drill with a socket on it to drive the oil pump, the ATF will get pumped through the engine and clean everything out. Drain it again and do the same with fresh oil.