head gasket may need doing again

[gazza1701-a]

I recently changed the head gasket on my C1.8NZ, I after driving it for nearly 100miles now I've noticed a hot oil smell, I had a check under the bonnet and have found what seems to be oil where the head meets the block, now I'm second guessing that i've not correctly tighten the head down, Is it a case of take it apart again and fit a new gasket? or is there a way i can check the tightness of the head bolts? I also think its used oil, where it never used a drop before !

[Cavalier342]

Did you use any sealant when replacing the old one? Might just be that being sqeezed out, Mikebmth had his head gasket done on his C20NE, near enough the same blocks, and he had the same residue appear to "seep out" but that was just the sealant being pushed out and not oil.

[planetc]

Oil around the flange below no 4 comes from either the cam/dizzy oil seal, the cam box or from the head gasket. There should be no sealant there, only between the cam box and head.

[gazza1701-a]

Did you use any sealant when replacing the old one? Might just be that being sqeezed out, Mikebmth had his head gasket done on his C20NE, near enough the same blocks, and he had the same residue appear to "seep out" but that was just the sealant being pushed out and not oil.

No sealant was used between the head and block only did the cam box joint.

[gazza1701-a]

Oil around the flange below no 4 comes from either the cam/dizzy oil seal, the cam box or from the head gasket. There should be no sealant there, only between the cam box and head.

if the leak was coming from the cam/dizzy oil seal wouldn't i see oil directly below the dizzy? but it looks dry there.

[Cavalier342]

Did you use any sealant when replacing the old one? Might just be that being sqeezed out, Mikebmth had his head gasket done on his C20NE, near enough the same blocks, and he had the same residue appear to "seep out" but that was just the sealant being pushed out and not oil.

No sealant was used between the head and block only did the cam box joint.

Pretty sure you should seal it all the way round.

Silly question but are your breathers all clear?

[gazza1701-a]

Did you use any sealant when replacing the old one? Might just be that being sqeezed out, Mikebmth had his head gasket done on his C20NE, near enough the same blocks, and he had the same residue appear to "seep out" but that was just the sealant being pushed out and not oil.

No sealant was used between the head and block only did the cam box joint.

Pretty sure you should seal it all the way round.

Silly question but are your breathers all clear?

All breathers are clear as I checked the pipes before putting it back together, I'm sure as Planetc says that there's no need for sealant between the head and block.

[btcctroy]

You sure it's not coming from above somewhere. Get some brake cleaner spray it all of then try to see where it's coming from.
No you don't use sealant with head gaskets

[gazza1701-a]

Looks like the oil IS seeping out from the head gasket oh well it'll give me something to do one weekend!

[gazza1701-a]

Well is looks like my head gasket was okay, the oil leak was in fact due to a faulty valve stem seal, it had split, letting oil into the exhaust which was then seeping out of the manifold joint and down onto the block.

[planetc]

Unusual scenario, it must have smoked like a train

[btcctroy]

Can't see that causing a leak definitely lots of smoke

[gazza1701-a]

Can't see that causing a leak definitely lots of smoke

i think the oil was building up in the exhaust chamber then seeping out, the exhaust gasket was very oily, I park on a slope facing down hill too which may have helped with the build up of oil. It did puff out smoke when left ticking over for a couple of mins.

[Envoy CDX]

All sorted now? Did you redo the head when the gasket was being done?

[gazza1701-a]

All sorted now? Did you redo the head when the gasket was being done?

All done now and all seems well. I did get the head checked by the people who skimmed it and it was fine. I think I may have pressed the failed stem seal on to hard the first time round which split the rubber. Done about 800 miles with no problems.