rdssk8rcs1

I have coolant seaping/leaking from two of the bottom exhaust manifold studs? Seams to get worse as I torque them.

Any thoughts of what can cause this?

Cracked head?


GSR Head, AFI Topmount manifold

Hondaruss

are you burning coolant?... do you have a cloud coming from the exhaust?

fusion645

Right, if your burning coolant there would be a white cloud of exhaust and if that was the case, the head gasket could be damaged or possibly a warped head.

rdssk8rcs1

No smoke whatsoever. Running 20 psi making 500whp on a gt30r and it runs flawlessly. This is the only issue I am having and it seems to be isolated to this only symptom.

Hondaruss

This is weird.. so it sounds like its coming out of the exhaust ports..when you tighten them it gets worse.. but there is no smoke at all?.. can you take a quick vid or a pic of this. if it was the head gasket it would be leaking below the exhaust studs on the bottom of the head. So this doest make sense .. when did you notice it?

rdssk8rcs1

I can e mail the pictures and text a video if anyone is interested.
This issue started 1500 miles after the build.

If the engine is running you can literally see the difference in the leak by torquing this one exhaust bolt. It will completely stop with it loose.

Hondaruss

Yes text me a vid hondaruss@yahoo.com I am very curious to see

rdssk8rcs1

I sent two. Let me know what you think! Thank you

Hondaruss

Got the vids. You are deff. leaking from the head gasket... Do you have arp headbolts? If you do i would go do a re-torque on them. I have experienced after a few heat cycles i had to re-torque them cause they loosened up

rdssk8rcs1

The only reason I disagree with that is because today I cleaned it all up and started the car and waited for the leak.

I also replaced the head gasket and head studs this Saturday thinking that had to be it. I pressure tested the cooling system before starting the car after the new studs and gasket and it was leaking from the same spot as before.

rdssk8rcs1

I am using a dart block. I originally used a Honda gasket but after this started I researched to find dart recommends the use of a cometic. That is what I installed on Saturday.

Not sure if that information matters

rdssk8rcs1

I am using a dart block. I originally used a Honda gasket but after this started I researched to find dart recommends the use of a cometic. That is what I installed on Saturday.

Not sure if that information matters

rdssk8rcs1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JyXVIq2Jkis

For everyone else to see

Garage 808 Hatch

Are they stock studs? or did you replace them with something else? possible they went in too far and cracked head? I would think theyd strip before that, but who knows.

also, i had a similar issue with a head that had a pinhole in the floor of the exhaust port

rdssk8rcs1

As far as I know they are stock studs and I agree. You would think that they would strip before doing any major damage to the head itself.

TiAL

had this issue when i had to helicoil a stud and i drilled a bit too far and nicked the water jacket

rdssk8rcs1

Pretty confident that its a crack/nicked water jacket?

What is the fix for something like this? Some good ol' lock tight?

cleansi

sounds like the head is cracked some where that's very small and unnoticeable.
i have my head sprayed with penitent and magnifluxed for cracks before i sell or put together. ive seen some really small cracks that where so small that you couldn't see them with out a magnify glass. just thought i would throw that out.

HiProfile

If it goes away when loose, then it's probably a hair-line crack. There is a short-term fix, which is will indeed work. Certain engines like some V8's use headbolts that actually go into the water jacket. They use a thread sealant that will do the job, and I think permatex makes it (others do too).

The down sides - you need it 100% clean (coolant drained, threads chased), and it could eventually get worse. Hondas don't usually get cracked heads, but it's somewhat common with other brands. Your best bet is to have it removed and inspected. A nicked water jacket will be fine, but a crack will make it junk.

AFI Turbo

e85?

Garage 808 Hatch

just shove some JB weld in the hole and thread the stud in.

welfarepc

if its just a nick in the water jacket pull the stud, apply honda bond reinstall stud. that should fix it.

N1 Andy

Thats exactly what I was going to suggest. Dip the stud in JB weld and thread it in, let it sit overnight and continue to rape the car. Guarantee it will work! haha

komat

jb weld will melt at that temp

dont even bother

they make copper rtv that does 700 or so degress that may work

Spawne32

iTrader: (3)

sounds like a cracked head