1.6 N/A HeadBolts 1000 mile re-torque

[SolarSteve]

My Bentley states that after installing/tightening the head bolts, I should drive for 1000 miles and then remove the valve cover and re-torqure the bolts an additional 1/4 turn.  Does anyone do this?

My valve cover always seems to leak unless I RTV it.  Over a year ago I R2'ed the head and never did the re-torque due to the fact that my valve cover was not leaking and I didn't want it to start leaking and everything was fine.  Did I just luck out or is this step unnecessary.

Whats the consencus?  Thanks

[maxfax]

I've always did the retorque to be safe..    Get one of the rubber V/C gaskets..   No more leaks, ad it's reusable...

[SolarSteve]

What company do you buy your rubber V/C gaskets from?  I just got one from Dieselvw.com and it leaked.  I pulled it off and RTV'ed the gasket and so far (just pouring the oil in) its not leaking.  Hopefully when I home tonight I will get it started!

[barrygti]

I removed the rocker cover to re-torque and when I tried I swear the bolts felt like they were going to break. I got about 20 degrees on each one and stopped. 

[SolarSteve]

A year ago when I pulled the head for my first time, the #10 bolt felt "soft" when I applied the final torque during installation.  It felt to me like the threads were just about to strip out, so I left it alone and never did the 1000 mile re-torque and nothing bad came of it.

This time around I chased the bolt holes before I installed the head and #10 felt fine, just like the others, so I guess after 1K I will attempt the re-torque.

[maxfax]

2 words, "head studs"    Those stretch bolts do feel just plain scarey when you torque em...

Was the rubber V/C gasket you got  steel reinforced and come with longer v/c studs???

I got one from importpartsconnection.com   I think it was a victor reinz or smoething like that..   Sadly they ditched their website and only sell a fraction of what they used to on ebay now...


Any luck on firing her up yet???

[Quantum TD]

I tried to the 1k retorque on a cold engine. I snapped my XZN driver (Snap-on brand) after the second bolt . I would have skipped the 1k retorque, but there was some coolant seepage on the side of the head. I never got around to finishing the job. The car still starts/runs great. I should check back and see if I can in warmer weather and a hot engine, but I certainly would not try it on a cold engine.

[burn_your_money]

Giles sells the rubber VC gasket kit for around $25-$30 CAD

I've done a few headgasket jobs and I've never retorqued afterwards.

[farkman]

Don't know if it's different for a 1.6 but the bentley for a 1.9TD, IIRC, states a re-torque is only necessary if you are
using a fiber (composition, non-metal, whateveryouwanttocallit) headgasket. 

[rabbitman]

Myke_W also sells rubber VC gasket, I think 18 bucks.

[SolarSteve]

I got the car started last night and I have spent most of today stopping leaks.  I now have all the leaks stopped expt for the $**$#%***%##% (every swearword imaginable) valve cover.  I tried a rubber one and it pissed out the rear side of the V/C.  I tried a cork one, which I cleaned all surfaces and then wiped down with rubbing alcohol and then laid a 1/8 bead of RTV on the head, installed the gasket, then another 1/8 of RTV on the gasket and then the V/C.  It still leaks out the rear side.

Tuesday the local shop will have more gaskets.  I am planning on buying 2 over them and stacking them with RTV on the head, inbetween each gasket and then on the top of the top gasket.  Its either that or I lay a 1/2 bead of "Right Stuff" directly to the head and not use a gasket and install the V/C.  If it seals after that I will probably never get it off again.

Anyone have any ideas why this F'ing thing won't seal???

Thanks

[burn_your_money]

Your valve cover is likely warped.

Go easy on the RTV. It'll squish out, break off, and get trapped in the oil pickup screen. Then one day you'll be minding your own business winding your car up to redline and opps there goes your engine as it starves for oil. Seriously though, I've now purchased 3 engines where excessive RTV was used in the cooling system and it got lodged in the headgasket. All 3 had warped heads.

[SolarSteve]

Thanks...