Head gasket tips

Joined
Feb 26, 2005
Messages
4,281
Location
Kansas, USA
The primary driver of the Focus really isn't ready to let it go and really with scrap and vehicle prices stuck either way. I can get a gasket set for less than $40 and head bolts for $10. I'll admit I really screwed up when I changed the head out 4 years and 30k ago, but hey it was my first time diving into a engine.

I had to take it apart twice since it sucked in another piece. The second time I used copper sealant on the head gasket and reused the head bolts which I know was a no-no.. but it still ran a long time. I'm guessing either it either overheated due to stuck thermostat and failed in the location below or just failed in the location below. Less than 150psi on the two middle cylinders and you can hear it in the reservoir.

I still need to do a assessment but I'm thinking just basically doing the same thing again although replacing the head gasket and bolts. Even if it last only another 30k that'll be 202k.. has 172k right now. Besides adding copper sealant not sure anything else I could do to prevent failure. Probably should replace the head but that's $300 and really not worth that.


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I would replace the head if you're really trying to milk more miles out if it. A cheap repair that leaves the car unable to be trusted doesn't help anyone. Our Taurus has 392,000 miles and I'm currently replacing a bunch of wreck damage with parts from a $600 parts car. I value it at the cost of 2-3 car payments on a car whose driver is retiring in 18-24 months and doesn't want another car payment. Plus we know this old, worn out Taurus is reliable as taxes.

Edit: I should add, I would replace the head with a good used one if you can find one. That's really all you need. Grab one from a local salvage yard and have it checked by a reputable engine machine shop.
 
You’re going to keep dancing around this car no matter what you do until you replace that head. Take it as a lesson learned.
 
Junkyards are no go.. unless I could find another with a new head. All the spi's drop valve seats with the factory head. Really only want it to last a couple more years but $300 isn't a lot in the grand scheme of things. That head came from headsonly but but before the second piece through seemed to be good quality. Zetec's have their own issues and my luck isn't good enough to find a decent donor.
 
I don't know about The Focus, but on Escorts, you want to use Mahle head gasket. The Mahle head gasket is for that particular engine and fits better. The FelPro is speced to fit every Escort ever made, as well as another unrelated vehicle (Fiat???). So FelPro made compromises and doesn't seal s well.
 
What year vehicle?
Have you checked the head and block to see if they are true?
If not did you make any attempt to resurface the parts that the head gasket touches? I have done this with sandpaper.
Exactly which replacement head gasket are you using?

I had to take it apart twice since it sucked in another piece.
What did it suck in?

As long as the car is a beater, it's perfectly OK to resurface yourself and install a new head gasket. I've done it. The car lasted another 8 months with way less leakage before the transmission went and I junked that car. Totally worth it for how little I spent (note much more than $100) and how much I learned.

I would be better if you posted more pictures of the head. I would try to verify that the valves were working properly before reinstalling.
 
What year vehicle?
Have you checked the head and block to see if they are true?
If not did you make any attempt to resurface the parts that the head gasket touches? I have done this with sandpaper.
Exactly which replacement head gasket are you using?

I had to take it apart twice since it sucked in another piece.
What did it suck in?

As long as the car is a beater, it's perfectly OK to resurface yourself and install a new head gasket. I've done it. The car lasted another 8 months with way less leakage before the transmission went and I junked that car. Totally worth it for how little I spent (note much more than $100) and how much I learned.

I would be better if you posted more pictures of the head. I would try to verify that the valves were working properly before reinstalling.
I'm going to check it when I tear it down again. I have square that will work perfect. The head gasket in there now is Enginetech. It sucked in another piece of valve seat. Even though I sprayed brake clean and water through it, turned it over and shook it there were still pieces in it. Online headsonly recommends popping the lower plug out to clean, it didn't state anything about that in the paperwork they sent :rolleyes: Not entirely happy about that but since their the cheapest probably go with them again.

Beater is a perfect word for it.. The back rocker is gone on one side but overall rust isn't bad. Paint is terrible, interior is failing apart but it drives like a Cadillac at 80 when it's running. The AC is perfect and best of our fleet. Think both of those is why my wife doesn't want to get rid of it! The head was perfect the first time I put it in, pretty sure the valves all are good based on the compression test. But it might be a while before it gets back in the que.. want to get the kitchen done and winter decided to show up in Kansas City!
 
It appears the failure was on the block side of the head gasket between 2-3 and 1-2 had breaks on both sides.. although compression was ok on 1. Wonder what caused that? I don't see a reason not to reuse the head although it appears there's a bad HLA on the exhaust side. Think I'll just clean things up with a new head gasket and bolts and see what happens, replace the HLA probably first. Really could use a new exhaust manifold and harmonic balancer but I might wait on those.

head1.jpg


head2.jpg
 
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