head leaking need advice?

[lexrob]

Well i went against all advice and put a cometic on my rb20 without a resurface but used arp studs.

Anyways now i have a very slight oil leak from side next to #1. Not even noticeable on the dip stick after 3wks tho.

A) should i try a retorque...(currently at 80ft.) correct procedure??? loosen then torque?B)attemp to take off my head in vehicle s14 and replace with oem gasket and new arp's?C)I FAIL pull motor and ...if it would be impossible with it in car still.

[lexrob]

Checked it out again today and not even noticable on the stick (3wks). Should i just leave it alone and not bump up the boost like i planned to.

I did some research on the retorque and there are multiple views on it. Anyone got an opinion.....

[Beanstalk]

Dude I'm in the same boat as you ... and mine leaks on start up??? Good luck

[Kansei240sx]

Not resurfacing the head was probably your biggest mistake. If it doesnt blow now, it will later. You should've taken a straight edge in various angles across the block and head to make sure it was true.

If you're lucky you may just have some trash between the gasket and head/block, but if its that bad it may have ruined the head gasket.

You can run it until you blow it up and ruin some stuff or suck it up and do it the right way. If a head gasket leaks its not something that just fixes itself, TAKE action. Hope that helped.

[lexrob]

I did check to make shur it was true and it was in spec. Ill take your advice now and work on attempting to get an oem gasket before damage. I dont know if it will clear my arp's with the block in the car. Im guessing i cant reuse my arp's either.....

Should i at least try giving it a retorque or its just done?

I cleaned that block and head for hours and there was not a fingerprint left. I guess everyones right - ALL AFTERMARKET headgaskets blow. Unless you send it to the westcoast to be surfaced to military spec. like a full blown race car. I havent heard of anyone have anyluck with them as far as rb's. huh....

[Darius]

It may be within spec for a factory organic head gasket, but under no circumstances should you purposely attempt to install a metal head gasket without machining both the head and block surfaces. There are countless threads and posts about not doing this.

You can try to retorque, but I don't see it helping. And I've reused ARP head studs before. I think several others have and I haven't heard of anyone having problems in doing so.

At this point, I'd cut my losses and put an organic head gasket back on there. It will be adequate for your power goals.

[lexrob]

Well i just got off the phone with a local machine shop. They said if its not leaking water just clean and run a bead of silicon across seam. I remember the exact place and its right around the oil return. Anyways ill do a retorque and run a bead and let you guys know.

I cant see it just blowing up one day. They also recommended the copper spray when installing due to the same problem im having.