final quarter turn on head bolts

[skifree]

On my 85 1.6td for the final quarter turn on the head bolts, should the engine be cooled back down or done when the engine is still warm?
p.s Victor Reinz gasket

[Quantum TD]

Is this for the 1000mile turn, or the initial heat-up and torque?

For either, I'd let it get it good and hot (2 fan cycles) and then let it cool off for about 20-30 minutes. This will allow the head to cool and shrink, making retorque alot easier. I tried to do the 1000 mile retorque on a cold motor. Snapped my tool in half.

Regarding the 1000 mile retorque. Some claim you don't need to do it unless you have coolant seepage. I'm not so sure on that. Perhaps others can chime in. The only thing that would make me reticent to do that is, I've had stretch bolts really give loose on the final torque, so if the final 1000 miles torque can be avoided, I'd try to skip it.

[Rabbit on Roids]

on every head gasket ive ever done, not once have i ever done a retorque. and ive never had problems with any of them. i know quite a few other people that do it this way also.

[Wayland]

on every head gasket ive ever done, not once have i ever done a retorque. and ive never had problems with any of them. i know quite a few other people that do it this way also.

But is there any reason NOT to do it?

[Rabbit on Roids]

its a bunch of extra work?

[smutts]

I've always done it, but it does scare me to death as you are heaving those bolts and feeling them giving way.

[wil892]

I have done 4000 miles since new head and gasket, didnt do retorque and there is no apparent seepage. (Touch wood!) I didnt do the retorque because on the last torquing sequence when hot #10 bolt just felt too easy to turn. The rest had sufficient resistance to my breaker bar and angle measurer for me to be happy, just the #10 that felt easier. Any one else had experience of this? I live in constant fear of only running with 9 head bolts properly torqued.

[skifree]

Thanks for the replies, I ended up doing it when it was still fairly warm.

[smutts]

Any one else had experience of this?

Yup exactly my experience, fingers crossed 5k since gasket.

 ???GSF bolts perchance?