So I installed my new headgasket with some copper spray. Thing is there was coolant in the wholes along the cylinder wall. (shown in pic)


when end I was torquing the headstuds down I notice some dribbles of coolant coming out. Should I redo it or is it fine thanks.

its a felpro gasket if that helps

ps I cleans the block before I put it on.. Only pic I had to show what I was talking about lol

 

Those are the water jackets. They are needed to cool the cylinder and are supposed to be there. Don't take it back apart. Good luck.

 

I had coolant leak out of my felpro MLS gasket overnight after torqueing it and then lowing the nose of the car. Car started right up the next day (I let the car sit over 8 hours to set the MLS gasket) and I ran the crap out of it for a few years before I just swapped it last weekend. Motor was running okay accept for my oil burning issue I had for ages.

I suspect the head gasket job is fine and running it just sets everything. You will know upon start up if there is an issue.

Moved the thread to misc tech. Might get more response there.

 

You shouldn't have any issues unless either of the mating surfaces were warped. If you know you torqued everything down to spec correctly, I wouldn't worry much about it.

 

you could always leakdown test the cylinders or pressurize the cooling system to see if its holding...

 

Doesn't an MLS gasket need a heat cycle to finish the seal?

 

I think the clamping force of the headbolts have more to do with It than anything. Unless your referring to that Black almost rubber like coating on the HG. I believe all that does it help with slight surface imperfections, similar to what copper spray does.
Pretty much every head gasket I've ever installed on various engines are pretty much start it up, let it idle and bleed the cooling system, and go for a test drive. No real heat cycling needed really for proper HG sealing in my experience.

 

If you end up taking that engine apart ( I assume it's a stock own bottom end), can you verify what positions the ring gaps are in? Ring gap movement is something that I've been interested in but haven't seen enough to have an opinion yet. Some say they move alot, some say not much at all. My experience has been they stayed pretty much in their correct positions and orientation.
Sorry OP to go OT.
Good luck with the build.

 

Thanks for the info guys. Should be starting up the car tomorrow. Hopefully it's leak free!