F-in M20's!! I HATE EM!

[rs4pro3]

I have always have m20 heads checked for flatness while they are off. If you loosen the headbolts in just slightly the wrong way the head will warp

[Brian D]

Sean, what exactly is leaking? Oil or coolant on the outside, or are you using oil/coolant (internal leak)?

You can try tightening the bolts a little more, but it sounds like there may have been some crap on the head or block surface that is preventing the gasket from sealing. You may have to take a few deep breaths and start over.

Oh, and don't be fooled-this kind of shit happens with all types of engines. Your M20 isn't evil!

[Sean]

If you pull the head you need new gaskets and new head bolts. I only use OE gaskets and bolts as I've have mixed results with non-OE parts.

When I built the motor two years ago - I used STOCK headbolts (the damn gay stretch shit) that CANNOT be reused! I used a new STOCK headgasket. Nothing is not-stock - all OEM parts, goetze gaskets! I did the exact same thing this time. Torqued to yield both 90deg turns.

You guys have done nothing other than tell me to use new and OEM headgaskets - please, tell me something I don't know.

[jlevie]

If you pull the head you need new gaskets and new head bolts. I only use OE gaskets and bolts as I've have mixed results with non-OE parts.

[Sean]

I used a new one....

I used a sealant on a new gasket, to make sure I avoided this...but obviously that didn't help.

I think I'll buy some metric blues and torque em down one by one to see if that alleviates the problem. only issue is, I'm not sure how I'll go about gettin oil outta the bolt holes...

[e30wheelman]

uh im pretty sure you need a new head gasket EVERY TIME. silicone/sealent/whatever wont work for that . theres just too much pressure. theres nothing wrong with the m20. its a good engine. IMO its only draw back is it was designed a SOHC.

[Sean]

MLS? What do you mean?

I definitely used a new gasket. Did a new waterpump and belt too (of course). it sucks...suuuccckkks bad. I need to replace my pan as soon as I can, if I don't lose more than a quart in 4k though, I'll probably just live with it, because my motor should last me two more years with no maintenance at all, and by then I'll be outta school and driving a more comfortable daily driver. LOL

[AlarmedBread]

Did you use a new hg when you did all this or do you have a mls?

I'm in the same boat, I started out just refreshing my head and am going to end up in the bottom end :rofl:

[Sean]

That's right, I went there!

I was home last month, and decided to pull my motor because I had a small leak that was driving me INSANE! I wanted to clean everything nicely and put er' back together.

Well, to start off with, while in the midst of my pull, I mis calculated usage of the engine hoist and destroyed my oil drain plug - so I need a new pan. AND, the headgasket that I thought was leaking, actually wasn't, BUT IT IS NOW!

Here's what I did, pulled the head off, cleaned everything real nice, cleaned the mating surfaces off best I could (the best I could...they weren't as nice as machined surfaces) and put the head back on using some gasketcinch recommended by a mechanic. While doing this, I found my leak that I thought was coming from the headgasket (the small seep at the front of the head) was actually coming from my crankshaft seal. Fixed that, no more leak. Put the motor back together, and now I got that fucking headgasket leak that I DIDNT have before! I AM SO PISSED!!!!! :curse:

I'm thinking of getting some metric blues and torquing them down pretty tight to see if I can stop the leak. I'm also thinkin that maybe I didn't torque down that front head bolt enough, but I'll have to check that still.

Think that'll work? I'm so pissed right now, because I basically took a fine headgasket, and broke what didn't need fixing.... I'm almost positive that once this damn leak starts, it doesn't stop without pulling the head AGAIN.

...fuck this motor.