I just rebuilt 96 DOHC engine, put it in the car and I have a small oil leak at rear of engine between 3 and 4 cyl. at the head gasket, this is before it was cranked over, cranking it has no leak. setting it leaks. I wonder if I got the gasket on wrong? Looking at the front of the car I can read Fel pro on the right side top of the gasket. also the gasket sticks out a little in front but only tabs stick out in rear. anyone got any pics. that would help? If this is wrong will I have to buy new head bolts again? Thanks for any help.

 

You can reuse the head bolts again but they will have to be checked for streaching. I think it was Spud that said he uses them more than once but does not go more than three or four uses on a set of head bolts. and as for the leas make sure you have an MLS (Multi Layerd Steel) head gasket. other than that Make sure you follow the torque pattern on the head. you should make 2 passes around both with diffrent torque settings.

 

I know from first hand experience that you CAN put the MLS head gasket on wrong. I call it upside down, but call it what you want to, I'll explain what I mean.

Counting the cylinders from 1 to 4 (passenger side to driver side of car), I call that the engine front (belts, pulleys, etc) to engine rear (next to tranny).

The engine left and engine right is what I call using the actual car front to car rear (respectively), so the intake is on engine left and exhaust is on engine right.

Again, call it what you will, but here is what I found.

I could not put the MLS head gasket on backward (engine front to engine rear) as all the holes would not line up properly, but yes, I did put it on upside down (engine left to engine right). I found out when I put in anti-freeze as water came out the oil filter hole. When I took out the oil pan plug, all the anti-freeze in the pan came out. Fortunately I had not yet put in the oil, or put on the filter, or even tried to turn it over, or it would have been a disaster (hydrolocked engines are ruined!!!) When I took it back apart, I found that yes indeed, a single water hole was not properly covered by the gasket and when I flipped it over, it was fine.

The car has been running fine ever since. Good luck and I hope that if you did get it on wrong, you found out soon enough to not cost you a fortune fixing it.

 

I put it on wrong! took the head off, cleaned it all up again, new gasket and bolts, putting it back together again. Nothing got damaged, found my mistake before putting in the anti-freeze and cranking it up. (just had a feeling it was wrong)Thanks for the info.