Leaky Headgasket? (Redtop sr20det)

[noodl35]

Well I just completed a medium rebuild on my sr20det. While my head was at the machine shop getting new valve seals installed i had them mill my deck. I got ARP head studs along with a cometic gasket. Torqued it all down in steps till i reached 80lbs (even used the moly lube that came with the arp studs). Ok, heres whats confusing me. I poured 3 quarts of oil into the motor to test for leaks. Next morning I see that there is oil leaking from my oil pan(dented up) so im buying a greddy one. Second, I see a thin oily seam on the headgasket line between the head and block (by the heater hose areas). Wiped it with my finger and surely it felt like oil. Now a friend told me that you have to fire up the motor and let it heat the gasket to properly seal it. I'm thinking since there is no oil pressure that its just leaking out naturally?? I'm kinda stumped and I don't want to take my head off again =\. Maybe I should put nissan gasket sealant under and on top of the headgasket. Am I Okay or is this a major problem. Any help would be appreciated.

-David

[s13sr20chris]

hmm, i am not sure about that. i say it could not hurt to start it up and see if it has to bed in.

[noodl35]

yeah im still contemplating on doing that or just say screw it and take off the head, apply gasket sealant under and above the gasket.

[180fan]

Head gasket's probably not seating right. You don't need the sealant on it, possibly just on the big looped section for the timing guides, but that's about it. Other places you should be fine. What was your torquing procedure?

[noodl35]

Torqued the ARP studs to 80lbs, but i did not loosen and retighten because some people on the boards and the ARP instructions say that you only need to torque it down to 80lbs once. But of course i did all the tightening procedures in torque steps. All in the right order by the FSM. I talked to an older mechanic and he said that the multilayer gaskets need the engine to be heated first so that it completely seals the head to the block. I guess problem solved?-David

[180fan]

Dunno, I followed the FSM to the letter, even with my ARP studs on a Greddy headgasket on my SR. Never leaked, although they're being called leaky headgaskets. So I did the tighten, loosen, but tightened to 60 ft/lbs and it seated just fine. Might just wanna run it and see how it runs.

[noodl35]

will do, thanks for thehelp, i'm dropping the ka motor today then swapping the sr probably the day after. So ill let you know how things go.