Coolant in engine oil head gasket repair

In addition, I already started the break down to remove the cylinder head and I came upon an issue. I cannot get to the two nuts in the middle of the intake manifold. Is it okay to remove the intake manifold still attached to the cylinder head?

Good morning.

Sure, that is the way I pull the head and then remove all the externals on the bench.

When you get it off, have the head checked for being warped and cracked.

When you reassemble use only new head bolts as the ones you have are torque to yields.

Roy

Okay thanks Roy. After I have put back everything. Do I just do a regular oil change and hope that there is no more coolant residue left in the engine? Do I also clean the radiator or just put in new coolant? What are the torque specs for the manifolds?

Yes, change the oil and filter and also flush the cooling system. Replace the thermostat as well.

Why did the head gasket fail?

Can you verify the year and engine? I see no 323 in 1997.

Roy

Roy

The car overheated because the radiator fan connector was removed from the thermo switch. Year model is correct. The engine is a b3p with carburetor sohc.

The intake and exhaust manifold volts are 22 lbs.

Roy

Thank you so much for your respond. The repair is paused for now since I do not have a 13mm 12pt socket for the head bolts. I will make sure to keep this thread updated.

Sounds like a plan.

Roy

I ran into another obstacle again. When I was checking for the socket size for the head bolts I used a 6 point 13mm and it fit well so I assumed that I needed to buy the same size socket but a 12 point. No when I tried the 13mm 12 point socket on the head bolt it was loose. What is the correct socket to use to remove the head bolts on this engine? Should I just use the 13mm 6 point socket or buy another socket 12 point socket with a smaller size? I did not know that 6 points and 12 points have different 13mm socket sizes.

If you used the 13mm 6 point to remove it then use the 6 point to install.

The 12 point does not have the grip of the 6 point.

Roy

But the bolt heads of the bolts look like 12 points. I did not remove it yet as I am contemplating on what socket I should use. It looks something like this (pls image). Is it safe to use a 6 point socket on a 12 point bolt head?

Nope. Check and see if a 1/2 12 point is any tighter. Otherwise, you may need a different socket for the 13mm.

Roy

Thanks, I will try a 12mm 12 point tomorrow if I find one at the store.

Sounds like a plan.

Already removed the cylinder head. How do I clean all of these? Thanks!

Okay, you will need an air drill or electric drill with an adapter to use what is called cookies. They are nn abrasive discs that will remove gasket material without damaging the block surface.

You can get them at a parts store. Get a box of the cookies. They are cheap but you will need to get the adapter to fit the cookies.

Roy

Okay, I will try to look for those. I noticed something about head bolt number 5. Is this something to be worried about? My guess is that coolant seeped in its bolt holes and left some sediments on the threads when it dried up. Am I correct? Please see picture.

Yes, that is correct.

I would run a tap down and clean up the threads. Take one of the bolts with you to get the exact thread pitch for the tap.

The 5 is most likely a production line number.

Roy

Okay. I wll do that also.

As I was cleaning the cylinder head surface I came upon a big pitting. Will this be an issue?

Clean the top of the entire block and then we will take a look.

Roy

Okay.

Let me know.

Roy, none of our auto parts store here in the Philippines have the one you said "cookies" or any gasket remover. I already have an adapter for the drill. Can I improvise and just use scotch brite to remove the old gasket material?

Yes, that will do fine. Clean the block as best as you can.

Roy

Okay. I will let you know when I am done cleaning.

Thank you.

You are welcome. Always glad to help.

Is there a solvent I can use to soften up the old gasket material? Can I use paint stripper?

I found loctite chisel 790. Which one would you recommend I use to remove the old gasket material of the engine block?

I would use, at this point, a good sharp gasket remover scraper. It will be time consuming but will not damage the block surface at all.

Roy

Okay. Mind if I ask why not to use a solvent to soften the old gasket material?

There a bit of metal in the old gasket from the construction of the gasket. The solvent does not dissolve that.

You can try some solvents but it may have little or no effect.

Roy

Okay. Thank you. Having a bit of a struggle with cleaning the engine block and I am a bit apprehensive in using the electric with the cut out scotch brite because I have read in other sites that the loose fibers might get in the engine and cause a problem in the future. And I cannot find a gasket remover scrapper anywhere here. The ones I found looks really brute for a very delicate job like this. I will try the paint remover followed with a plastic scraper. The Loctite gasket remover is a bit expensive. I will make sure to give you an update. Thanks again.

You are welcome.

Roy

Almost done cleaning all mating surfaces. You were right, the solvent had little to no effect. I just used a razor blade for scraping. Scraping whenever I get a chance. About the head bolts, I'm not able to get new ones. Nobody sells them here where I live. Is it okay to reuse the original ones?

These are torque to yield bolts and you must replace them. If you use the old bolts, they will stretch and will not hold the correct torques and the head will get loose and leak compression and coolant.

Roy

I understand, but those bolts are not available anywhere here in my location. I am left with no other choice but to reuse them. How can we tell if it is a torque to yield bolt?

By the torque. When they tell you to tighten to a certain spec and then turn a certain number of degrees, that is a torque to yield bolt. It has gone to the most point it can take and cannot be reused.

Roy