engine and drivetrain I Hope This Isn't A Cracked Head!!!!

[jmp]

I recently noticed a puff of smoke come up from under my hood but when I went to check it I couldn't see anything wrong. Then a minute later I saw a drop of oil bead up on one of the exhaust manifold nuts and drip off on to the manifold producing a new puff of smoke. It seems to happen every couple of minutes and I've just never noticed it before.

 

I recently had the head rebuilt and installed one of the exhaust headers from Tom at 02again but instead of using the gasket he provided (with the heat shield) I used the one that came with the head rebuild kit (4 individual gaskets). I'm worried that the new header could have overheated the head and cracked something. Alternatively, I also recently had to take the valve cover off to adjust the eccentrics and I reused the valve cover gasket. I'm hoping that the oil is leaking from there rather than lower down.

 

Can anyone think of alternative diagnoses or ways to test these two hypotheses with the least redundancy. I'd rather not go disassembling things that I don't need to disassemble.

 

Thanks in advance for any advice!

 

Cheers,

-Jonathan

[Stevenc22]

The lower exhaust manifold studs run right into the head and the oil system and the and its very common to have a leak from the manifold studs. Remove the studs, clean the threads and use loctite to stop it leaking again.

[ray_]

The lower exhaust manifold studs run right into the head and the oil system and the and its very common to have a leak from the manifold studs. Remove the studs, clean the threads and use loctite to stop it leaking again.

What Steven said. BTDT.

 

Cheers,

[jmp]

Thanks! I'll give that a try.

 

Cheers,

Jonathan

[Preyupy]

Actually it's the top studs that go through into the cam,rocker,valve spring area in the head, Pull the studs and Loctite them in the head. Then once you put the manifold back on tighten the nuts drive it a few times and re-check the nuts (the gaskets compress and you need to retorque)

[Stevenc22]

Preyupy might be right, i think it is the top studs that leak...

[Buckeye]

Did you notice oil discoloration (milky) when valve cover removed to adjust the valve?

Are you monitoring coolant level and its condition?

Have done oil change resently and observing used oil color?

[roadhog0]

Yes, it's the top studs. My 02 leaks here too...

[oldguy]

Many people utilize loctite on them to solve this but I've found that aviation form-a-gasket is the best thing for this job.  A big blob on the end of the stud and thread it into the head.  Never leaks

 

http://www.permatex.com/products/product-categories/gasketing/gasket-sealants/permatex--aviation-form-a-gasket--no--3-sealant-liquid-detail