LSA Head Coolant Leak

[DrkPhx]

No pics. The stock head gaskets are actually very good even for higher than stock boost.

[Flavorwrench]

Originally Posted by DrkPhx

No pics. The stock head gaskets are actually very good even for higher than stock boost.

Unable to see the pics?

[DrkPhx]

See them now

[ZO6 Bryan]

Originally Posted by DrkPhx

No pics. The stock head gaskets are actually very good even for higher than stock boost.

The stock MLS (multi layer steel) gaskets are very good. But they only come in one size/thickness. Cometic gaskets can be had in many variable thickness. They can even custom make them to you specs. This comes in handy for getting you compression ratio and quench area thickness exactly where you want it. Quench area is very important to get right and has a big effect on susceptibility to detonation. But in many cases the stock gaskets are fine.

So the piston that's all black, is that where the leak was? Coolant was getting in there and killing the heat of combustion resulting in all the carbon build up. That would be my guess.
Put a straight edge and feeler gauge on both the head and the block to make sure everything is flat.

[ZO6 Bryan]

Is this where the leak was. All around #7 cylinder. Was one picture flipped? Doesn't seem to match up?

[Redlineviper]

On a side note, I ran 21psi on stock head gaskets and bolts for about a year. Never had an issue but proactively went to LS9 gaskets and head studs. Your boost as you now have seen was not the issue.

[Flavorwrench]

Hey Bryan,

Thanks for taking the time to look at the pictures. I flipped the gasket in the orientation that it sits on the block and threw the plugs down for documentation's sake. I'm excited to see what the other head/gasket looks like, so I'll probably have those pictures up soon.

[Flavorwrench]

Originally Posted by Redlineviper

On a side note, I ran 21psi on stock head gaskets and bolts for about a year. Never had an issue but proactively went to LS9 gaskets and head studs. Your boost as you now have seen was not the issue.

Thanks for the input.

[DrkPhx]

I ran Cometics with copper spray on previous builds without issues but they were high compression n/a setups with a very tight quench. As far as I know; the LSA and LS9 share the same head gaskets. I know TSP offers a high boost head gasket with an o-ring but I don't if they have one to fit this application.

[Flavorwrench]

Originally Posted by DrkPhx

I ran Cometics with copper spray on previous builds without issues but they were high compression n/a setups with a very tight quench. As far as I know; the LSA and LS9 share the same head gaskets. I know TSP offers a high boost head gasket with an o-ring but I don't if they have one to fit this application.

Cool, I think I'm sold on the Cometics.. thanks guys for the lead on that brand, I like what I have read so far. They seem to be more common than I realized.. guess I wasn't paying attention.

My Twin-turbocharged motor is O-ringed with Copper Gaskets and Head studs running in the 30 PSI range and I have never had an issue... Even reused those gaskets. Apples and Oranges I know..

I need to decide if I'm sticking with my BTR 2 cam and if so, what to get from WCCH. Stay tuned and I'll provide pictures of the passenger side head gasket. Hopefully there is something to gain with all of this. Thanks for your input.

[ZO6 Bryan]

So looking at it all, you were leaking coolant from below the #1 cyl. And the head, block and gasket surface looks to confirm that. But why was #7 all carboned up. The #1 spark plug also looks like there was a misfire happening. Sure they aren't mixed up?

[Flavorwrench]

Originally Posted by ZO6 Bryan

So looking at it all, you were leaking coolant from below the #1 cyl. And the head, block and gasket surface looks to confirm that. But why was #7 all carboned up. The #1 spark plug also looks like there was a misfire happening. Sure they aren't mixed up?

After really looking at those gaskets I too can see now where that leak was.. great eye through just pictures Bryan. Believe it or not you can feel the gasket around where it was leaking and even the material feels different.

As for the spark plugs, I know for sure they are numbered correctly, I mark em as I pull em. I thought I read somewhere running Torco can play with the color a little, but I have nothing to back that up. I usually run 2 cans with a full tank.

As for the #7 cylinder something is going on there and I'm baffled... I just haven't seen enough of these to even give a good guess. I'm not sure I would agree there was a misfire going on... wouldn't the PCM flag that?

I thought maybe rings in that hole?
bad plug?
coil pack?
Valve stem seal?

If any of these were true I think the Spark Plug would be wet and Black, so..

I'm guessing on all of these...

I should have the other head pulled today or tomorrow so I'll post pictures of the other side.

Thanks Again,

Bob

[ABADZL1]

7 and 8 get more of the pcv oil than the other cylinders. The first time I removed my lid to do the solid isolator, there were pools of oil around the rear intake ports and almost none around the others. I wouldn't be too concerned with the carbon. Blower outlet is right between 5,6,7,8. Catch can helps.

[Flavorwrench]

Originally Posted by ABADZL1

7 and 8 get more of the pcv oil than the other cylinders. The first time I removed my lid to do the solid isolator, there were pools of oil around the rear intake ports and almost none around the others. I wouldn't be too concerned with the carbon. Blower outlet is right between 5,6,7,8. Catch can helps.

Thanks for the input. I'm not sure I totally agree with that. I've been running Saikou Michi's since about 1200 miles after my first build and have collected this much oil to date. I didn't save the oil the first time I emptied it, so what you see in the picture below represents the second and third time the cans were emptied. Those cans really work great... almost no oil in the snout and blower, so I'm not sold on the idea #7 is getting the bulk of the remaining.