TIV Cylinder Head Gaskets, what is the official story???? Options

[John]

I am having some leakage problems with a 2.0 4-cyl and I am trying to narrow down where the leak is coming from.

I thought it was an exhaust leak, but have changed heat exchangers, had the new exchanger off several times and Can not seem to see any evidence of the exhaust leak at the copper exhaust gaskets. None of the exhaust studs are loose or pulled.

I even went to the extent of changing cylinder heads, but the leak remains.

When I changed cylinder heads, I did not know of any information regarding the elimination of the cylinder head gaskets, so I believe that I have them installed.

How likely is it that the cylinder head gaskets can be the source of a leak?

My exhaust leak is intermittent when the engine is up to temperature. (It is quiet while it is warming up idling, but after it is warmed up, sometimes at idle you can notice what sounds like a slight exhaust leak. Not real loud, but noticable)

I was thinking that it may be a cracked cylinder (near the mating surface of the head), but the more I have read about the elimination of the cylinder head gaskets, the more I think that the leak could be those aluminum gaskets.




Does anyone have any information with regards to a bulletin released concerning the elimination of these cylinder head gaskets, and could I get a copy? I would greatly appreciate some advice on this matter.

Thanks.

[Jake Raby]

The official story is to remove the gaskets from your gasket set and throw them as far as you can out of sight!

The correct procedure is to attain the target CR and deck height without the gaskets. This typically means installing a .030 shim under the cylinder to correct the deck height change from the removal of the .027 head gasket, or making fine tuning adjustments to chamber volume.

We use a piece of glass covered with lapping compound made from water mixed AJAX to true the sealing surface of each cylinder. The consistency of the AJAX mix should be about like toothpaste for best results.

Then using the same compound lap each cylinder into the register of the head that it will be residing when installed onto the engine. This will creat a machined fit that is superior to any fit the gaskets will give you- (stock gaskets or copper)

I use this procedure religously and head leaks are non existant with our engines with this procedure.

I have written an entire chapter in my engine sealants handook on this procedure- its gonna be good reading.

The head gaskets are evil things... created from 3 pieces of .007 thick aluminum and rolled together.... When they start to leak they blow all to hell and melt cylinders and heads like butter on a 90 degree day...

Thestock cooling system doesn't make things any better with its trait of creating uneven running temps on all 4 cylinders. Over heating means over expansion and over expansion leads to the hint of a leak that starts the death of the gasket.

Those head gaskets have been the demise of many engines that would have lasted 5 longer if they had not failed.

Without the gaskets there is nothing to blow- I haven't used them in years. I have engines running 14:1 CR with this procedure and not a hint of a leak-