Head Bolt Thoughts

[RSWORDS]

Hang on here... This is gonna come from left field!

I ran around for about a month and a half on a stock gasket with no retorque and 55-57 psi, Pulled the bolts out one by one dipped them in some oil and and put them back snug. When all of them were oiled I wnet through and torqued them, 100-110-120. A week later... No more head gasket. This is were I think I went wrong... When I dipped the bolt I literally dipped them in the oil and they cam out COVERED! I'm thinking the oil filled up the bottom of the hole effectivly and seeing as we all know you cant compress a liquid it hydro-locked the bolts. So while the final torque on the bolt was 120 ft/lbs the head was not getting the clamping force of 120 ft/lbs.

The reason I'm asking is I'm putting the new head on today and had a... duh... moment while dipping the bolts in oil...

Thoughts?

[Remps]

Nothing wrong with a little oil on the bolts.Just enough to lightly wet the threads though.You're right on the excess oil.It would take up torque to try and push excess oil up the bolt hole.

[PToombs]

Yup, I bet that's what killed it! After you torque it with the oil in there, the oil bleeds up past the threads and you have a loose bolt. I did a head gasket on a Mack once when I was young and dumb. I never cleaned out the bolt holes. The gasket lasted 3 days. I took some of the bolts out by hand, no torque at all!

[RSWORDS]

Thanks Pete. All the bolts were still tight when I pulled the head. It was a stock head with ALOT of miles on it so I cant say for sure that was it but I have a good feeling it didnt help!

[mprmn08]

thats why you use moly lube and not oil just my opinion though. i never liked torqueing with oil for that reason right there. unless its a through hole the oil has no were to go.

[PToombs]

Oil is ok, but you only need a slight film of it. Pretty sure that ARP gives 2 torque specs for their studs, 1 with oil, and another that's lower with the moly lube. That stuff must be really slippery!

[mprmn08]

that stuff is awesome. they pretty much have to give 2 specs cause alot of people dont use the moly and will under torque the bolt if they torque with oil to the moly spec. if they give you a pack with the product you buy from them USE IT.

[RSWORDS]

can yuo get moly lube at teh auto parts store?

Now I gotta figure out how to get all this oil out teh bolt holes... Brake clean for the win I guess...

[BC847]

Umm, did you chase those scank threads in the head?

[RSWORDS]

Umm, did you chase those scank threads in the head?

Yes I did.

[PToombs]

Squirt brakleen in the hole, put a rag around the end of the blowgun and let fly! It may take a few shots, but that cleans it pretty good.

[mprmn08]

if you go to a good parts supplier you can get moly but i dont think auto zone or advanced or any of those carry it. i dont know for sure as i get it free at work benefits of bein an engine builder. on top of free machine work and cost of parts.