MyE28.com

I've been monitoring coolant level for the last few weeks. It hasnt lost much, just a wee bit. Then I saw it while I was welding up a new exhaust this afternoon. Its leaking down the side of the block around the #5 cylinder. Theres no coolant in the oil, and the plugs looked fine last weekend, so I think its just leaking externally. Its not a wet leak, just dry crusty coolant. It really looks like the head gasket, though I haven't ruled out a cracked head or any other strange possibilities.

Time for some metric blues I guess. When I get around to it.

Stock head gasket, right?

Stock gasket, stock head bolts. I knew it was going to sooner or later. No biggie.

Might partially explain some of those recent running issues as well.

Any plans for what you're going to use for replcement?

Jeremy

turbodan wrote: Time for some metric blues I guess.

Those are a mistake unless someone has completed the material analysis of them so that a proper tq value can be applied.

Better to use stock bolts than guess at the tq value of metric blues.

Todd

Ive seen recommendations between 65 and 80 ft-lbs. I'm not sure what to think about them yet.

Whats a set of studs cost?

T_C_D wrote:

turbodan wrote: Time for some metric blues I guess.

Those are a mistake unless someone has completed the material analysis of them so that a proper tq value can be applied.

Better to use stock bolts than guess at the tq value of metric blues.

Todd

I agree with Todd, Everyone and their mother jumped on the Metric Blue Band wagon but no one really knows the right torquing procedure. Thats Why I used studs.

turbodan wrote: Time for some metric blues I guess. When I get around to it.

What is metric blues?

Head bolts made from 12.9 grade steel instead of whatever material the stock bolts are. Since they stretch differently, you need a different torquing procedure. They're big in the e30 crowd.

Why they're so popular I'm not sure, are they way cheaper than studs or something?

Jeremy

"Metric Blues" are "off the shelf" metric hardware that happen to be tinted blue for identification.

You need to find what torque/stretch is required to apply the correct clamping force.

Look on McMaster Carr.

They'd be about 35 bucks to do an M20. I dont know what studs cost. I bet its into the 100's. Its not really a matter of cost. I'll buy whatever I need, but a lot of the e30 guys are using the "metric blues" with stock head gaskets.

I sent them a message about the bolts, I'll see if they can tell me some more about torque for these things.