The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Head gasket weeping?

Bench breaking in a 61-261 and noticed something like a lite brown mollases stain down the side of the block in about 3 places on the exhaust (hottest) side of the engine block. The biggest concentration of "stain" seems to be coming from the head gasket area between #3 intake and #4 exhaust. Its not an oil leak 'cuz the stain cannot be removed even with solvent, as if its baked on.
Compression checks at 163 to 169# with nothing strange noted, spark plugs look good, head bolts torqued to specs, vacuum holds good and steady @20 inches, valve cover gasket does not leak, engine runs smooth in all rpms, no oil in the coolant and no coolant in the oil. Looking really close at the "active area", you can see minute bubbles developing then a minute clear drip of something going down the side of the block.
Had the head magged during teardown and no cracks. found. Could it be the head gasket filler material breaking down in all the heat. Don't know if this symptom is a precusor to something more terrible to come, or not to worry. Thanks for your insight























































to between #3 intake and #4 exhaust ports.

Did you use any type of sealant material on the gasket?

No dope, head put on clean and dry

Have you retorqued the head yet?
It would be a good idea.

Retorqued bolts, all were to spec, no retightening

Did you back each one off one at a time and then retorque?
Just checking the torque from where they are is no good. The bolt has to be moving as it reaches it's torque setting. Because of friction it takes more to start a bolt moving that to keep it moving. The bolt needs to be moving when it reaches it's correct torque.

Getting late in this part of the country, will do that tomorrow. I assume that each bolt is loosened and retorqued, as opposed to loosening them all and restarting from the beginning.

Yes, one at a time following the torque chart sequence.