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

 

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

 

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.

 

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.

 

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?

 

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.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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.

 

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

 

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

 

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

For everyone else to see

 

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

 

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.

 

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

 

Pretty confident that its a crack/nicked water jacket?

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

 

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.

 

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.

 

e85?

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

jb weld will melt at that temp

dont even bother

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

 

sounds like a cracked head