Jim:
I think I'd side with Nelson in that since you haven't run the engine and
have retorqued the head that any coolant was removed when you changed the
oil. Any residual coolant will be quickly burned off. If there is a problem
with the head gasket it will show up upon inspection after running for
awhile and can be dealt with then. To change the head gasket before running
the engine is, IMHO, overkill.
Jeff Johnson
'76 TR6 -Still awaiting rebuilt engine install
At 08:56 PM 4/12/01 -0400, Nelson A. Riedel wrote:
>| I did something stupid today and I'd like the lists opinion on how
>| serious my error was:
>| I put a new a/c compressor & bracket on CF38690 so I had to remove two
>| head bolt nuts and I thought I'd re-torque the head while I was there.
>| Without thinking much, I loosened all the head bolt nuts, installed the
>| a/c bracket and re-torqued the head. I then decided to change the oil
>| and I noticed some thin fluid coming out of the oil pan after awhile. It
>| didn't occur to me to drain the coolant, so some must have moved into
>| the cylinders and/or oil galleries while the head was un-torqued.
>| Should I just re-fill the crankcase and check for additional coolant in
>| oil, vice versa, or do I need to replace the head gasket? Something
>| else? How much trouble am I in?
>| Jim Davis
>| Fortson, GA
>| CF38690UO
>| CF37325U
>
>Jim,
>
>If it was mine I'd do exactly as you suggested ---- refill with oil, top off
>the coolant and keep an eye on the coolant level to make sure that the leak
>has stopped. Any coolant in the top will exit through the exhaust. You
>drained the bottom so I'd think you got most of it out. If there are signs
>that the head gasket is leaking, I change the head gasket then.
>
>Nelson Riedel
>Granville, OH
>76 TR6 (home from paint shop)
>68 TR250 (next project - new paint)
>70 TR6 (all the parts in a pile ready to assemble)
|