Head Gasket Question

[MGB_80]

Just wondering...Noticed today that my head gasket has a nice leak in it and oils going everywhere. thinking about upgrading to a copper gasket cause i drive lots of backroads at the higher rpms. question is do i need to get my head resurfaced and which gasket should i get i saw one on moss motors and victoria british.


Called VB and they didn't know if i would have to get the head resurfaced

thanks
Aric
'80LE

 

[14dna]

Hi. As a mechanic for 30 some years I never replaced a head gasket without resurfacing the head. There are two reasons for this; 1 If the gasket leaks, what does this do to the head (warps) 2 Do you want to do this job over?
This may seem like overkill, but when you have to do it again it is frustrating, and as a professional, your reputation is on the line with every job. Hope this helps Dave

 

[Scott_Hower]

Saga advice from 14dna. Doesn't cost much more, given everything is apart. Do it. At the very least, ask a trusted machine shop to check it for straightness.

Why did it fail in the first place? Did you find the cause?

VB wont know anything about your car, let alone repair advice. Best to ask here. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif

 

[tony barnhill]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:]Noticed today that my head gasket has a nice leak in it and oils going everywhere.[/QUOTE]

The last part of that statement concerns me...where exactly is oil going? & from where is it coming?

 

[ccougill]

don't use a copper gasket, get a fel pro at your local parts store

 

[tony barnhill]

I agree q/chuck...but, there's something else going on if you're losing oil down the side of the block!!

 

[ccougill]

thats true if it's oil, then something is broken. A blown head gasket should only be leaking water, and most of that out the exhaust.

 

[MGB_80]

ok...im new and thought it was the head gasket ill take some pics tommorrow but it looks like its coming from in between the cylinder head and the block on both sides but worse on the header/carb side

 

[Scott_Hower]

Water in your oil?
Oil in the coolant?
What do both look like?

What color and smell is the exhaust?

 

[jlaird]

I bet, I just bet if I was a betting man. Valve cover gasket.

 

[MGB_80]

well i changed the valve cover gasket because it too was leaking. but you can still watch the oil run out from somewhere under the engine header pipe towards the rear of the engine. looks to me like where the manifold sits ontop of the block. is there a gasket in this area?

 

[DrEntropy]

There are two rectangular "side covers" on the block (behind the manifolds) to allow access to the lifters. They have gaskets which can leak oil. Hopefully it'll be one of those and not the head. A good cleaning/inspection is the first order of business! Tough to see in behind the manifolds on the later B's, but with small mirror and flashlight you may be able to get a good look around.

 

[Scott_Hower]

Beat me to it Doc.

To the OP, what makes you suspicious of the head gasket? Do you have foamy coolant or oil that looks like mayo? Sweet smelling exhaust?

The tappet chest covers that Doc mentions are a PITA to get too, but a very likely suspect if you have oil on that side of the block.

 

[PAUL161]

Oil on both sides of the block?!?!Hmm, that's interesting. One side you could figure, but both sides?? PJ

 

[Bugeye58]

Spray clean the entire area with brake cleaner or such, and dry thoroughly. Get a can of spray foot powder and coat the area. This dries to a white powder. Start the car and look for discoloration of the powder. It'll pinpoint the source of the leak.
An oldie, but a goodie!
Jeff

 

[Scott_Hower]

Spray clean the entire area with brake cleaner or such, and dry thoroughly. Get a can of spray foot powder and coat the area. This dries to a white powder. Start the car and look for discoloration of the powder. It'll pinpoint the source of the leak.
An oldie, but a goodie!
Jeff

Thats a great tip, need to file that one.

This is an 80 MGB which will probably be festooned with all manner of emmisions doodads. I'd be surprised if he can even see that side of the block much less hose it down/spray it up.

 

[DrEntropy]

That'll be the major issue: seeing/getting to the side of the block. I kinda think the right side may just be "leftovers" from the valve cover leak. If there's no water in the oil or vice-versa, it's likely to be coming from the side covers.

 

[tony barnhill]

Yep - that side might possibly be side covers...the other side could be around the oil pressure line fitting or somehere around the filter housing...if its higher than that, its gotta be valv cover....I can't believe oil is coming out at the head gasket.

 

[PAUL161]

Spray clean the entire area with brake cleaner or such, and dry thoroughly. Get a can of spray foot powder and coat the area. This dries to a white powder. Start the car and look for discoloration of the powder. It'll pinpoint the source of the leak.
An oldie, but a goodie!
Jeff

Great idea Jeff! Who would ever think. Another addition to the memory book. Notice I said book and not bank. The bank keeps heading south with age. PJ

 

[Rick_Stevens]

Spray clean the entire area with brake cleaner or such, and dry thoroughly. Get a can of spray foot powder and coat the area. This dries to a white powder. Start the car and look for discoloration of the powder. It'll pinpoint the source of the leak.
An oldie, but a goodie!
Jeff

Great idea Jeff! Who would ever think. Another addition to the memory book. Notice I said book and not bank. The bank keeps heading south with age. PJ

And getting more and more overdrawn! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/frown.gif

R.