WHY...Oil leaking out at head gasket???

[PaulRV6]

I noticed on my new engine that I have some oil leaking out between the head and block. Looks to be at the rear of the block on both sides.
This is a newly rebuilt engine with about 20 miles on it. Is it just from the oil in the cylinders during the rebuild? Will this eventually go away?
I am going to retorque the heads but just not yet.

Anyone else seen this before?

paul

 

[TurboDave]

Are you sure it's not leaking at the crevace where the lower part of the intake, the head, and the block all meet?? It usually leaks there, and seeps down along the head gasket at the back (or front) and ends up at the bottom of the head, appearing very much like it's coming from the head gasket.

It's incredibly easy to get a leak at that intake/head/block joint if you don't "goop" it up during assembly.

 

[snoxer]

I just resealed my intake because of the same thing ( front). I didn't use the rubber seals, just a bunch of the sealer. I cleaned it like crazy and used a good sealer and it is still leaking. I guess I should try again. Is there any oil passages on the heads near this area?

 

[PaulRV6]

Turbodave, I am almost positive it is not coming from the intake seal but I will double check that. Thanks for that suggestion, but I will check.

paul

 

[blackbuick87]

Double check your PCV. I may not be the head gaskets

 

[TurboDave]

Originally posted by snoxer
I just resealed my intake because of the same thing ( front). I didn't use the rubber seals, just a bunch of the sealer. I cleaned it like crazy and used a good sealer and it is still leaking. I guess I should try again. Is there any oil passages on the heads near this area?

When you pull the intake to re-do things, here's "my" approved method:

Use the rubber seals, put a thin coat of RTV on the side that "meets" the block, and a liberal "dob" in the two corners where it tucks under the head, and install the seal. Apply a thin (1/16") coat along the top of the seal (where it touches the intake). and a little more in the two corners on top the seal (again, where it touches the head and intake. Carefully set the intake in place and torque to specks.
Let stand for 24 hours. This will solve your leaking intake problems.

 

[snoxer]

Thanks, I will use the rubber seals this time. I did let it sit for 2 days before I started it. I guess it wasn't clean enough.

 

[HellOnWheels]

Oil leaking out of head gaskets??

Another potential place for leakage is at the lower rear corners of the valve covers, especially if cork gaskets were used.

HellOnWheels

 

[TurboDave]

Re: Oil leaking out of head gaskets??

Originally posted by HellOnWheels
Another potential place for leakage is at the lower rear corners of the valve covers, especially if cork gaskets were used.

HellOnWheels

Isn't it odd how things work out. Going to cork gaskets was the only way I was able to stop those leaks.

 

[John Larkin]

I think I'm going to have to do this too over the winter. Originally, I thought the valve cover gaskets fixed my leak. Well, they helped, but it only slowed things down. Still oozing down the rear corners of the block. At least I have a spare intake I can go ahead and port, then do the swap in one shot.

 

[HellOnWheels]

Oil leaking out of head gaskets

Hi Dave,

Thats also what I had to do to stop the oil leak (use cork gaskets). But I've found when using cork gaskets is-typically the fasteners should be slightly tightened again after initial install.

HellOnWheels

 

[TurboDave]

Re: Oil leaking out of head gaskets

Originally posted by HellOnWheels
Hi Dave,

Thats also what I had to do to stop the oil leak (use cork gaskets). But I've found when using cork gaskets is-typically the fasteners should be slightly tightened again after initial install.

HellOnWheels

Oh ya, that goes without saying ! But, unlike the rubber ones that require rechecking after EVERY heat cycle, at least the stay put after one or two re-torques

 

[MSDGN]

Since the bolts that hold the valve covers slop around in the cover holes I put some black RTV on the non-threaded part of the bolt so that it fills much of the gap between the bolt and hole
...then snug them down...haven't had a leak or had a bolt come loose yet...