Bending head gaskets

[TurboBob]

As many of you know, I've been driving around with "bent" head gaskets for several years. They are GM shim gaskets installed with glue. When it originally happened, I tightened each headbolt 1/4 turn, and crossed my fingers. Its been ok for about 5 years, although the engine uses a little coolant.....

Anyway, I accidentally tried to bend them today. And they held up. Something is amiss with my wastegate hoses or other issue (it should have been about 20 psi, the ISAC is unhooked). But the engine is still running "fine".

So, the double pumper is working, the fuel stayed nice and rich (all the way to 30 psi), even though the alternator is not quite as happy (12.8v).

Just wanted to share.

 

[TurboBob]

Another note, the plugs are gapped somewhere between 35 and 40.

 

[kidglok]

sorry for the ignorance,

but what exactly do you mean by "bent"?

 

[TurboBob]

Sorry, I've told this story a couple times.....

It goes like this:

About 5 years ago I was on my way home from work and made a blast down one of the main roads. The car was pulling fine, no signs of distress.

A few minutes later I was driving thru the next town, and I notices a "stripe" on the pavement down the center of the lane in the rear-view mirror that was not on the road in front of me. As I drifted left and right in the lane, the "stripe" followed my cars movements, and another check in front of me revealed no stripe.

Hmmm, must be me..... (not a good feeling)

I clicked the Scanmaster over to coolant temp, and it was reading 240+. (not a good feeling)

so I wheeled the car into the nearest parking lot and shut it off, upon popping the hood, I could see the coolant overflow bottle (the mini one from the alky kit) was spraying out the overflow hole.

I called home and told "the boss" that my car had an attitude, and I was going to be a little late.

Upon letting it cool down, opening the radiator cap revealed "emptiness"......

Sigh, so I went into the restaurant whose parking lot I had stopped in, and bummed large cups of water to refill the radiator. I then drove the car home.

I drove the car to work and back for the rest of the week (its only a few miles), and then to my mechanic-friend's house the following weekend to 'work on it'. The plan was to pull the headbolts (torque-to-yield's) out one at a time, and replace with studs, and hope that this would buy me a few months until I could get the 'new engine' built.

We could not get the drains out of the side of the block, so we were having issues getting the studs to seal, so we only replaced one. What we ended up doing is tightening the existing bolts 1/4 turn each, and crossing our fingers.

It seems to have worked, as I have been driving the car ever since. But I describe the gaskets that are on the car as "bent"....

However, I probably stretched them a little more today.....

My engine is on borrowed time.

Bob

 

[kidglok]

holy spinning turbo's batman

thats some crazy chit, you sure it was "only" 30psi?

 

[TurboBob]

hard to say, since its only a 3 bar MAP sensor, but the fuel pressure sensor followed a similar curve.

either way, I felt the need to apologize to the car.....

Gotta check the wastegate hoses for cracks, and the wastagate flapper for free movement....

Bob

 

[TurboBob]

holy spinning turbo's batman......

I actually said something very similar when I first looked at the log...



Bob

 

[pdzz]

We are all on borrowed time my friend! I feel your pain! Set my new gate up wrong last year, logged over 30psi for three seconds... Then melted the head! I re-torqued my studs, nuts twice to try and keep them from bending... Worked for a while.. Phil.

 

[750H.P.V6]

Bob,

I'm glad to see that everyone including yourself has tuning "mishaps". It makes me feel better some how knowing you're a mere mortal like the rest of us.

Neal

 

[turbofabricator]

You'll be fine. You just bent them back the other way this time. Now you better loosen 'em up a 1/4 turn.


Bob..........If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

 

[TurboBob]

yep,

drove it around today (went out for lunch). Still running the same as before.

Bob

 

[SloGN]

Bob

I just love that story. I was laughing the first time I heard it. So I'm laughing again .......

I didn't blow a gasket I just bent it a little.......

 

[TurboBob]

Well, here is the lesson to be learned.

Over and over I have told people to inspect their wastegate hoses, and I inspected mine this year.

But the split was on the non-visible side of the hose.

So, I am revising my advice: Replace your wastegate hoses regularly.

I have a line on some really good hoses to replace this. I will start a thread once I check them out. But for now, new+ordinary vacuum hose going back on.

Bob

 

[turb0buick57]

Had a similiar looking hose a few weeks ago. Normally when taking the car out of winter storage I check over and replace just bad hoses. Took the car out on the highay and rolled into the throttle to see where the boost was, at about half/3 quarter pedal I new there was a problem the way the boost gauge shot towards 30psi. Ended up changing most of the vacuum hoses out and rezip tying them.

 

[Quick Turbo V6]

Bob,

"We" are going to fix all those "vacuum" hoses when we do the motor. I have the line just may need to buy a few fittings

Scott

 

[TurboBob]

Looking forward to it.

Bob

 

[TurboBuRick]

Well, here is the lesson to be learned.

Over and over I have told people to inspect their wastegate hoses, and I inspected mine this year.

But the split was on the non-visible side of the hose.

So, I am revising my advice: Replace your wastegate hoses regularly.

I have a line on some really good hoses to replace this. I will start a thread once I check them out. But for now, new+ordinary vacuum hose going back on.

Bob

You thinking silicone?

 

[SS/GN]

Bob have a look at the hose RJC uses.I have had good luck and seem to be a better quality.Good luck

Kevin

 

[TurboBob]

Bob have a look at the hose RJC uses.I have had good luck and seem to be a better quality.Good luck

Kevin

RJC has "vacuum hose"? I didn't see it on their site.

 

[TurboBob]

You thinking silicone?

Well, in that direction. The Borg Warner turbos have an integral wastegate, and on their solenoid is some really nice hose. Its built more like the intercooler hoses, multiple layer silicone with reinforcement. I think its too small to fit on my fittings, I need to try it.

The generic silicone hoses seem too soft to me.

Bob