The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 235 head gasket leak

I noticed a little bit of anti freeze on my crossmember this morning.
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I had not seen this before.

I think I traced it out to this location
...pic...see white arrow...

there is a little bit of rust from the leak on the bell also.
...pic...

I checked the oil and nothing looks out of the normal.
Went for a drive and the leak seemed to slow once the engine is warm.

My question is will it be safe to drive the truck with this leak?

Is there an additive that will help for the short term?

Anything else I should be looking for?

Its a 1954 car 235, in a 1950 truck. Ive been driving the truck quite a bit as my other car is down for repairs.
I have never pulled a head before, but if a have to I will learn fast.

Thanks for any help.

I would do a re-torque on the head bolts

Thanks
I will give that a shot.

I found the torque specs here 90 to 95 ft/lbs

torque cold?
I'm still looking for the sequence

do not loosen bolts, correct? just retorque- three stage- in sequence...right?

Thanks

I would warm it up, then back off one at a time and re-torque to 95 ft lbs, starting from the center and circling out.

Im all set to re-torque the head bolts next year.(Tomorrow)

today I did a compression test
#1 95
#2 100
#3 95
#4 105
#5 100
#6 120

do I need to worry?
or could these reading be a result of the leaking head gasket.

Re-torqued all the head bolts this morning
...pic...
went in sequence per the manual.

first warmed up the truck. Backed out bolts one at a time and torqued to 95ft/lbs.

I'll drive it around the next couple of days and see if the head gasket leak stopped.

Seems like the bolts on the manifold side we not that tight.


Thanks

Wow, I wish MY truck only leaked a drop at a time!!! - my truck has a cracked coolant jacket that I live with, it puddles on the floor. I just keep an eye on the coolant level and don't worry about it.

I think the re-torquing is a great idea, guessing that will cure it. Then maybe do the compression test again, with the truck warmed up.

You're very observant - I should try to be as vigilant as you.

But it would take a lot more than that leak before I'd consider taking the head off.

Keep us posted!

-Michael

Thanks Mikestem

Maybe I am overly cautious. I do drive my 50 to work every so often, and I take my 3 year old boy with me on drives when I can. So I do look over the 50 quite a bit.

Here is the latest. I retorqued a couple of days ago. Took the truck on a few short trips the last couple of days . It seems the leak has stopped. But I will continue to look.

Here are the results of the compression check after the retorque.

before........after
1. 95 ........130
2. 100........115
3. 95 ........115
4. 105........115
5. 100........110
6. 120........130

I cant imagine that much of a jump just by retorqueing the head bolts. Maybe my first copression check was flawed.(didnt crank over enough.)

The head gasket leak seems to have stopped, and I now know my 235 head is properly torqued. Some of the bolts were not very tight.

Any concerns on the compression readings? quite a gap between 5 and 6

Did you readjust the valves at the same time, it would be a good idea.

I did not re-check the valves when I retorqued the head bolts.
I last did the valves in September.
I will re-check the valves.

Should of done it when I had the cover off. My Bad (as the kids say)


Thank you

The above readings were compression reading, before and after head bolt re-torque.

I just got done adjusting the valves after I drove the truck home from work. The engine was warm.

Here are my compression readings after adjusting valves and engine full warm.
1. 120
2. 115
3. 120
4. 120
5. 115
6. 120

I had to adjust #3 intake and #5 intake, they both had to be opened up to .006
All other valves were fine.

The leak at the gasket has stopped. The truck is running nice, mileage on my last to fill ups is 15.6 mpg.
I’m not sure how to diagnose the above readings; my guess is compression is a little low

Thanks for the help on this issue.