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Head stud bubbling oil
- Thread starter RestoreThemAll
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Bob_Spidell
Yoda
Offline
Off-topic, sort of, but ...
I've seen several types of anti-seize grease. As far as I can tell, they are all oil with a thickening agent (as are all greases; e.g. molybdenum/'moly' grease and cheap grease, which uses diatomaceous earth). I've seen:
- 'garden variety' anti-seize. I believe this to be comprised of oil and finely ground ceramic materal
- nickel high-temp anti-seize
- aluminum high-temp anti-seize
- copper anti-seize ('Copaslip')
I've used the garden variety for years on spark plug threads. When I pull the plugs after a few thousand miles the oily part of the grease appears to have been burned away, but the ceramic remains. I suspect this is the theory behind all anti-seize greases: the 'carrier' gets burned off but the finely ground material remains and provides a barrier that prevents corrosion and retains some lubricating quality.
Copaslip gets recommended for wire wheel splines; the obvious reason being you don't want the splines to rust and 'weld' themselves together. But, if you drive your Healey much at all you should pull the wheels once/year and check for wear on the splines. I've used moly grease on splines for many years with no extraordinary wear and no other ill effects.
I've seen several types of anti-seize grease. As far as I can tell, they are all oil with a thickening agent (as are all greases; e.g. molybdenum/'moly' grease and cheap grease, which uses diatomaceous earth). I've seen:
- 'garden variety' anti-seize. I believe this to be comprised of oil and finely ground ceramic materal
- nickel high-temp anti-seize
- aluminum high-temp anti-seize
- copper anti-seize ('Copaslip')
I've used the garden variety for years on spark plug threads. When I pull the plugs after a few thousand miles the oily part of the grease appears to have been burned away, but the ceramic remains. I suspect this is the theory behind all anti-seize greases: the 'carrier' gets burned off but the finely ground material remains and provides a barrier that prevents corrosion and retains some lubricating quality.
Copaslip gets recommended for wire wheel splines; the obvious reason being you don't want the splines to rust and 'weld' themselves together. But, if you drive your Healey much at all you should pull the wheels once/year and check for wear on the splines. I've used moly grease on splines for many years with no extraordinary wear and no other ill effects.
OP
RestoreThemAll
Jedi Warrior
Offline
The car is back together with copper anti-seize on the stud threads and a new head gasket. It was hard to tell just how damp the holes were. There was some oil and water spillage with the removal of the head. The hole where the oil was bubbling up through the threads did look wet with oil, more so than the others.
I'll start the engine this weekend and let you know, Good Lord willing.
Dale
I'll start the engine this weekend and let you know, Good Lord willing.
Dale
OP
RestoreThemAll
Jedi Warrior
Offline
Started the engine this past weekend. No oil present on top of any of the head studs/nuts.
That car sounds so nice! I'll never be without an operational Healey again!
That car sounds so nice! I'll never be without an operational Healey again!