Head Gasket run in questions

thepedster · 18-07-2006, 09:59 PM

Hopefully tomorrow I will have my head back on and be turning the key and driving home from the garage, but whats the best way to run in the new head gasket? I take it I don't just drive like normal!

I've read a post by a member here (sorry name forgotten) about using just water for the first day and then draining and adding proper coolant, I don't drive very far in a day, so how many Kays should the water be in there for, and also I have read about retightning the head bolts after is it 100Kays?

I'm guessing it doesn't need much running in apart from that its not like its been rebored or anything like that, and its due for an oil change too, is it worth letting the gasket set in then do the oil change or should I do one now and one in a 1000Kays or so?

And just to triple check, its a 3.9EA I do need new headbolts right? The stock EA ones are those annoying TTY ones yeah?

cheers, sorry for all the Q's! and I am sure the garage will go over this tomorrow, but I wanna know now!

hppsc · 18-07-2006, 11:07 PM

Ok.

You ALWAYS use new head bolts. the old bolts will be stretched and buggered.

Use water for a few days, just so that all the crap from the gasket change is flushed into the water, then drop the water out, and put another load of water in. This enables all the crap that might have dropped into the water galleries to be flushed out properly. Once you've done that twice, put coolant in it and it should be ok.

Drive the car moderately. Just alternate speed and load on the engine. Try not to keep at one speed for too long. Do this for 2000 kays or so.

cheers

NeishaXR8_347 · 19-07-2006, 08:04 PM

the reason for using water only is to allow the gasket to bond itself to to the cyl head and block, if coolant gets in between surfaces it goes like a paste and doesnt allow it to seal we usually just leave water in for about 5 cold to hot cycles. all ohc 6's need new headbolts, and once putting it back together just drive it normal but making sure you monitor water and oils for about a week. Now if it has been sitting for about a week and needs an oil change drop it out now and leave old filter in and just put cheap gtx2 in and when you do the coolant change drop oil and filter and put whateva oil you normally use. by no means does it need to be babied or anything drive as per usual.

thepedster · 19-07-2006, 08:48 PM

Thanks for all the help, got it all back together this afternoon (with new bolts =D ) and so will be changing the water for a few cycles and doing the oil too, thanks again for the info and hoping this gasket is gonna do me another 212thou Kays!

NeishaXR8_347 · 19-07-2006, 10:15 PM

what type gasket did you use?

thepedster · 19-07-2006, 10:22 PM

I didn't specify a top of the range one of which you are probably going to recomend and I have been reading about these last few days, but it was a graphite one, can't remember the branding exactly, but blue cardboard shrinkwrapped up, maybe something like Durapro? Autopro? the name escapes me, but hey $350 for a fully fitted head gasket, I am not complaining about that!

NeishaXR8_347 · 19-07-2006, 10:53 PM

durapro, they arent cheap mate and are of very high quality, if its a durapro one then youve done well. we use them all the time and havent had issues.