Can i change a leaking top gasket at home? I want to remove the head and have it skimmed.I am reasonally mechanical minded. What is the torque for fastening the top nuts? Manie vd Merwe. Jeffreys Bay

Firstly the sort of crack cylinder heads suffer from are most often not visible which is why pressure testing is important especially if the previous blown gasket had resulted in a nearly cooked engine.

Uneven heating of a metal mass will always cause distortion and uneven cooling often causes a crack - this is often the consequence of leaving a failing head gasket until it has failed.

It isn't unknown for the top of a cylinder block to need attention due to corrosion or warpage. It isn't unknown for a cylinder block to crack, it also isn't unknown for head bolts to stretch and bottom in the holes especially when the head has been skimmed...
It isn't unknown for amateur mechanics to misinterpret the cylinder head bolt tightening method when it uses a mixture of conventional torque wrench and angular torquing.

Check camshaft oil seal also if head wasn't skimmed or not torqued down properly & with new bolts it could be leaking out of head gasket

if you had a oil leak that is not a reason for a head gasket or skimming the head. now the compression and voluum in the head has changed a lot. all it being a turbo wow :( sorry. those engine leak a lot of oil through the turbo seal

chances are you have a head gasket leak, the top of the engine will need dismantling, the head may need skimming on a milling machine, the radiator, thermostat & water pump should all be replaced at the same time as a premature failure of one such as the head usually means the imminent failure of the others, everything apart from the head can be done at home by even a novice mechanic with a Chilton's manual to save on cost & a replacement head gasket done by a decent garage should cost between 500 - 700 bucks, but call around to get the best price.

Its the head gasket.Get it changed and have the head checked for cracks and get the head skimmed has it may have warped.All alloy heads warp when being removed so have it skimmed before replacing.

In my humble oppinion this is on your mechanic.There is no reason why a properly done job should leak that amount of oil.If those bolts are backing off they have either not got the right torque spec or they have over torqued the bolts and stripped the threads which is why they keep coming loose.If this is what has happened no amount of gaskets or locktite in the world is going to fix this.In addition did the car overheat because of the original head gasket. If so your head may be warped allowing oil to seep out.Try having the head decked or find another one from the wreckers.Regardless your mechanic should make this right ,I know I would! Good Luck

Hi Dave Any adjustable torque wrench will be fine, as long as the correct settings AND sequence is followed.... ....Have you taken the head to have it checked for distortion....Its a good idea when doing any work which requires the removal of the cylinder head, especially so if the engine over heated at all....Have it checked at an engineering company and skimmed if need be.... ....Regards Johngee10

start in middle and work outwards alternately ,bolt torque 80lbs and pull down if three passes ,speed key --rachet- torque wrench .although iam posting this i never use a torque wrench i go by the feel of the bolt stretching ,make sure heads have been checked and skimmed before refitting

Removing the heads and replacing the gasket is not that difficult assuming you don't have a problem with the deck surface or other problems with the top end. These issues will require a machine shop and precision machining. Usually there's a reason for the leaking head gasket. Go get the mechanics manual for you car, it will list all torque values and sequences.