924Board.org

bnhgf · Joined: 13 Jul 2020 Posts: 13

Hi people,

There’s some oil sipping from under the head gasket after rebuild. The year of engine is 82 or 84, the bolts of later type with washers, they were installed with oil on cold engine and torqued to 10 m/kg as per Haynes .

They were not retightened while hot. Engine has been heated 2 or 3 times already .

What’s next to do - untighten them a bit and then tighten to 110nm

Or warm the engine and tighten to 12 m/kg as says Haynes

Or do I have to replace the gasket if it’s been oiled a bit

Thanks

bnhgf · Joined: 13 Jul 2020 Posts: 13

The engine is non turbo 924

Beartooth · Joined: 05 Apr 2022 Posts: 314 Location: Roberts, MT

Hmmm, I'd take a closer look at the valve cover gaskets and eliminate that before I'd mess with the head bolts, other than torquing them. Oil leaks like to travel, and depending on where you're seeing it, I could easily see it coming from the valve cover where you can't see it (like at the front or back corner of the valve cover) hitting the crack between the head and block, and looking like it's coming from the head gasket.

I've never had an engine leak from the head gasket, and unless there are major problems that should have been corrected (warped head or such), or it's an engine known to have issues, it's pretty rare to have an external leak. I haven't seen any reports of external head gasket leas on the 924, although my scope on that is mostly limited to this forum.

Regardless, I'd think if there were an issue with bolt torque, you'd have issues with combustion gasses in the coolant and wet cylinders before you'd get external leaks. Like I said, I'd look real close for other sources first. That said, if it does end up being the head gasket leaking, you're probably best to take it apart and start over. It doesn't sound like a head torque problem: the re-torque is just to account for any settling of the gasket after being run through dozens of heat cycles. It sounds like they were torqued correctly, and unless there was some question on the sequence or the bolts used, I don't think what's happening has anything to do with bolt torque, or that going through the re-torque sequence will make a difference.
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1980 931 diamond in the rough

MikeJinCO · Posted: Mon Nov 18, 2024 7:33 am Post subject:

If it is seeping in the back of the head, it is not uncommon for the oil pressure sender to weep. It may need a new crush washer. One from the local hardware would probably work. The best way to get to the sender is to cut off a 17mm wrench to appropriate length.
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Mike

'67 MG Midget Dp
'71 Ocelot Dsr Kawasaki 1000(under rebuild)