AAZ metal Head Gasket on a 1.6TD SB

[phaetonv10]

Hello there

I have recently replaced the HG on my 1.6TD to a AAZ metal one. and also switch to ARP studs.

there are a few questions I need answered.

1. The shop I got the job done from, when tightening the studs, DID NOT use the OEM tightening pattern, as per the Bentley Manual. And I think that has caused the HG to leak. Are my suspicions plausible or am i just thinking too much?
WHY AM I THINKING THE HG IS LEAKING/BLOWN.
a. When the engine reaches normal temperature, the hoses are fairly hard. if i press them, they're not as hard as wood, but say 70% hard. you can still press but they aren't completely soft. Is that signalling a blown/leaking HG???
b. there is oil leaking from the top left corner (next to timing belt, on the manifold side) of the engine. I know for a fact that the inlet manifold gasket and BOV o-ring are leaking, and my turbo is spitting oil too, BUT I think the HG is leaking from that corner as well.

2. The ARP studs, I got in 2010, and I bought the items specified for Ford Sierra, part # 251-4701.
The instructions sheet that came along said tighten them to 90Nm. but I got them tightened to 90 lb-ft (with the wrong tightening sequence) and then tightened them to 100 lb-ft  , (the last 10lb-ft using the correct tightening pattern).
I need expert opinion on this.

Rest is all good.

Doing a dynamat sound deadening project on the interior these days.

Cheers

[burn_your_money]

The cooling system is normally pressurized to 8-12psi or so. It's normal for the hoses to be hard when warm/hot.

[fatmobile]

Your head won't leak there normally.
 There is no oil pressure there, it just drains to the block,.. nothing to push it past the gasket.
 If you are going to seep oil, you'll do it between cylinders 3 & 4 at the front of the engine.

[phaetonv10]

Thanks for that guys.


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[manehfr]

its all perfectly normal... but i wouldn't have those head studs... for now ok but later maybe they can broke or crack and you will only know it when it wont star or stops in the midle of nowere...

[theman53]

its all perfectly normal... but i wouldn't have those head studs... for now ok but later maybe they can broke or crack and you will only know it when it wont star or stops in the midle of nowere...

Those studs are made of 8740 chromemoly alloy. Unless defective out of the box they would probably pull the threads out of the block before they would break.

I would check the valve cover as they leak there all the time. Usually looks like the HG but rarely is. Also, if they did not use sealant or put the cam seal in wrong they will leak there as well. See how much pressure your coolant actually has with a gauge of some setup and see if you are over that 15psi range. I would say it is normal. The studs don't have to be torqued like the VW book, but they should be torqued from the inside to the outside, and you should bring it up slowly not 100ft/lbs in one shot. You are probably ok