Head gasket problems (long)

[davida]

I reinstalled the head on my 02 after having some of the threads repaired. I had the machine shop put a sleeve on the back of the head where the o ringed bolt for the distributor housing is and chase all of the other threads to make sure they were ok. When reinstalling the head I made sure the bock was clean and the head was clean and the bolt holes were clean and I used new head bolts. The shop was also supposed to make sure the head was flat. I followed the procedure for the head gasket, 1st stage torque to 60Nm(44.26ftlbs), 2nd stage turn bolts 33 degrees. When I started the car for the first time it ran ok but a lot of water was coming out of the exhaust, not just a little vapor, a constant flow. Is this the head gasket, or do I have a crack in the head somewhere? There was no oil in the water, or water in the oil. Any suggestions before I have to pull the head again?

[TJs692002]

where is the water leaking out of? The exhaust side of the motor at the deck or at the manifold?

[davida]

It is leaking out of the exhaust side of the motor. I have puddles where my header connects to the rest of the exhaust, and a fair amount of water is exiting the tailpipe. I don't see any water leaks where the head meets the block.

[TJs692002]

let me get this correct, you are leaking fluid out of your exhaust pipes and not anywhere from the engine correct?

[davida]

Correct

[TJs692002]

bad news, your head is cracked. You need a new one. Sorry for the luck.

[c.d.iesel]

...PRESSURE TEST THE RADIATOR/COOLING SYSTEM,

HOLD PRESSURE - REMOVE SPARK PLUGS - CRANK MOTOR WITH PLUGS REMOVED - STAND BACK ! - IF WATER SPURTS OUT OF SPARK PLUG HOLES = R.E.M.O.V.E C.Y .L.I.N.D.E.R. H E A D . REPLACE OR 'repair' head. Got the correct head gasket ? head warped ? head pressure tested at machine shop?

[davida]

The head was not presure tested at the machine shop, the only reason I pulled the head was to fix the threads to solve an annoying oil leak. It was running great before. The shop was supposed to check the head to see if it had warped, since they did not mill it I am assuming everything was ok. Do you think the head could have been cracked at the machine shop somehow? I will try to pull the plugs and turn over the engine, but if water is coming out of the exhaust I would imagine water would come out of the plug holes if there were no plugs. Will the pressure test be able to narrow down my problem, or just verify that there is indeed a leak somewhere (head gasket, or head)?

[TJs692002]

when you do the pressure test you will see where the water is leaking from. You know it is going through the exhaust so you have to remove your exhaust manifold first to see in the head to be able to find out exactly where the fluid is comming from.