oil leak from head stud

Seight-V8 · Post by **Seight-V8** » Sun May 27, 2012 8:14 pm

noticed a small oil leak on my engine a while back but couldn't find where it was coming from.

Yesterday i noticed it looks to be coming from a head bolt hole, the one on the right side of where the engine number is.

Its not a bad leak, but just wondering if my head gaskets gone already.

Only done 400 miles since i rebuilt the 4.6, and i used elring composite gaskets.

Anyone else had this problem?

cheers

scott

kokkolanpoika · Post by **kokkolanpoika** » Sun May 27, 2012 8:57 pm

http://www.v8forum.co.uk/forum/viewtopi ... highlight=

Similar like your´s ?

I replace my heads gasket in this winter, and i didin´t notice any sign of crack etc.
I think those 97mm performance head gasket are totally crap, too mutch graphite and it will flow away when oil is sucked in it..
Elring is usually goog quality..

stevieturbo · Post by **stevieturbo** » Sun May 27, 2012 11:37 pm

Always used Payen head gaskets on my 4.6

Wouldnt use anything else really. Payen are OEM quality

sidecar · Post by **sidecar** » Mon May 28, 2012 4:54 am

Anyone tried these MLS head gaskets....

http://www.burtonpower.com/parts-by-cat ... _manuf=708

softdash3.9 · Post by **softdash3.9** » Mon May 28, 2012 5:26 am

Elring are OEM gaskets

Just replaced mine on the RR recently

stevieturbo · Post by **stevieturbo** » Mon May 28, 2012 8:50 am

sidecar wrote:Anyone tried these MLS head gaskets....

http://www.burtonpower.com/parts-by-cat ... _manuf=708

Never on a RV8, but they are common place on most modern engines.

Head/deck finish needs to be very smooth, but they do work very well and can handle lots of boost.

ChrisJC · Post by **ChrisJC** » Mon May 28, 2012 9:07 am

I have had this problem too.

I determined that the head clamping was on the fire-rings (correctly), but that didn't compress the seal around the oil feed to the head or the water jacket.

I forget the head gasket type unfortunately.

Chris.

Seight-V8 · Post by **Seight-V8** » Mon May 28, 2012 9:01 pm

been looking for some replacement head gaskets and didnt really want to buy any off ebay but i found these from RPI.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/V8-composite- ... 27c6aca6cc

Anyone used them and have any comments.

cheers

scott

sidecar · Post by **sidecar** » Tue May 29, 2012 4:52 am

Seight-V8 wrote:been looking for some replacement head gaskets and didnt really want to buy any off ebay but i found these from RPI.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/V8-composite- ... 27c6aca6cc

Anyone used them and have any comments.

cheers

scott

I've used them before, they seem OK. I did blow a set but I think that I was using too much NOS.

The problem is that there is a huge taper at the top of the RV8 bores which means that half of the fire ring is floating about and not under compression. I think this is why some of us have gasket issues with tuned engines where the peak cylinder pressure is very high.

DEVONMAN · Post by **DEVONMAN** » Tue May 29, 2012 8:38 am

sidecar wrote:
Seight-V8 wrote:been looking for some replacement head gaskets and didnt really want to buy any off ebay but i found these from RPI.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/V8-composite- ... 27c6aca6cc

Anyone used them and have any comments.

cheers

scott
I've used them before, they seem OK. I did blow a set but I think that I was using too much NOS.

The problem is that there is a huge taper at the top of the RV8 bores which means that half of the fire ring is floating about and not under compression. I think this is why some of us have gasket issues with tuned engines where the peak cylinder pressure is very high.

Real Steel do those gaskets at 2/3 the price.
Note the copper strengthening at the waterways.
I always use these.

I would not install a gasket if the fire ring sits patrtially on the chamfer at the top of the bore. --95mm and 96mm gaskets are available.

Cheers Denis

DaveEFI · Post by **DaveEFI** » Tue May 29, 2012 1:15 pm

Bought a top end set off Ebay for my SD1. Composite head gaskets for the 'new' heads.

It arrived this morning and a quick glance says it's well made. And excellent value. It's this one:-

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/120367506928

SimpleSimon · Post by **SimpleSimon** » Wed May 30, 2012 1:10 pm

stevieturbo wrote:
sidecar wrote:Anyone tried these MLS head gaskets....

http://www.burtonpower.com/parts-by-cat ... _manuf=708
Never on a RV8, but they are common place on most modern engines.

Head/deck finish needs to be very smooth, but they do work very well and can handle lots of boost.

Very true, they are not tolerant to any warpage, in fact they blow the sheets away one by one if the engine as been boiled up

I have seen this many times on Honda Accords when the rad as failed and the owner is stupid, generally you don't get away with an overheating situation once its occurred with the multi sheet design

but not working outside what they are designed for (i.e overheating) they are def stronger.

mgbv8 · Post by **mgbv8** » Wed May 30, 2012 8:12 pm

SimpleSimon wrote:
stevieturbo wrote:
sidecar wrote:Anyone tried these MLS head gaskets....

http://www.burtonpower.com/parts-by-cat ... _manuf=708
Never on a RV8, but they are common place on most modern engines.

Head/deck finish needs to be very smooth, but they do work very well and can handle lots of boost.
Very true, they are not tolerant to any warpage, in fact they blow the sheets away one by one if the engine as been boiled up I have seen this many times on Honda Accords when the rad as failed and the owner is stupid, generally you don't get away with an overheating situation once its occurred with the multi sheet design but not working outside what they are designed for (i.e overheating) they are def stronger.

Darn it!!
Those are what I bought for my new build. I paid £152 for them

sidecar · Post by **sidecar** » Thu May 31, 2012 4:46 am

I noticed that you can get the MLS jobbies for a 96mm bore which is handy because of the large taper at the top of the 94mm standard bore. My firing ring is also half hanging in mid air because of this. I wish that I'd found these gaskets before my last re-build.

Point noted about the overheating and these gaskets, I run my lump at 75-80 degrees and I am careful not to let it overheat.