These problems have occured on my del Sol, w/ B16A3

Recently had a Port and Polish completed on the head. There had been no leaks prior to the headwork. The head was checked for levelness, checked out ok, then lapped.

Re-assmbling a Mugen 2-ply headgasket was used. The orginal facotry headbolts (60k on them) were re-used and torqued to spec (61 lbs/ft), in proper sequence according to helms. Oil began seeping out near the front left portion if you were to face the front of the car. It is the area where the headgasket is normally stamped w/ numbers, under the vtec solinoid.

First guess was that it was a faulty headgasket. Pulled the entire head off and replaced w/ OEM honda part no.12251-p30-014. still using the orginal head bolts. everything torqued and sequenced to spec. leak still persists.

Decided could be due to streched head bolts. replaced old, w/ new OEM headbolts. OEM headgasket was left in place. torqued and sequenced to spec. the LEAK IS STILL THERE!!!!

the oil continues to dribble all over the block and the tranny making an utter mess. no coolant in oil or vice versa.

anyone w/ advice or possible solutions? this is driving me nuts!!!

 

Are you sure the VTEC solenoid gasket isn't leaking?

 

yes... its coming from inbetween the head and block. cleaned everything off w/ brake cleaner to see where the leak was starting from

 

Then either the head isn't flat or the block isn't. It could also be a headbolt not torqued all the way down also.

 

everything checked level... the headbolts were checked 4 times for the correct torque spec before the cam towers were put back on

thanks for the advise though

 

never re-use the stock head bolts. they are stretch bolts and need to be replaced everytime you change them.

good luck!,
mike

 

yeah i replaced em

 

any other help???

 

I've reused head bolts several times and not had the problem you describe. Are you 100% positive that it isnt leaking from somewhere else, dripping to the head/block mating area and seeping around that seam? In 95% of all suspected headgasket leaks on Hondas I've seen, the problem turns out to be the front two cam seals, the rear cam seal in front of the dist, the dist o-ring, or the vtec solenoid gasket.

 

Was the head milled when you had it ported? It might have gotten warped.

 

well i figured if i was the cam seals or the vtec solenoid gasket it would be leaking down the head, then onto the block. this leak it coming right where the headgasket potrudes.

the head wasnt milled, only lapped

 

any other help??

 

Id bet its due to the dowel pins holding the head from seating correctly

Take the gasket off, take the dowel pins out, and use a grinder or some sand paper and carefully take a small, i mean small(10-30 thousandths), portion off of the dowel pins. According to a few sources, sometimes when headwork is done, and the gasket used is a 2 ply gasket, the dowel pins can actually hold the head from seating correctly. Another trick i use, is to take a small portion of hondabond on my finger and spread it evenly around the oil passage you are talking about along with the gasket. This prevents the common leak known to that area. That information is similar to what endyn uses in his engine buildups.

 

i have trouble thinkin its the dowel pins, but this is what i keep hearing

both the head and block were measured to have 1mm of moving around space for the pins, they shouldnt be the source of the problem i put an OEM headgasket in this last time too, so i figured i should have less of a leak, NOPE!! just as bad

thanks for the advise

any other suggestions? want to get as many as i can

 

im having the same problem. 1st gen B16. Oil leak above engine code. It's going into tha shop tomorrow. I'll let u know how it goes.