Head gasket replacement question?

[Sail8870]

My kohler is starting to have a bit of oil seep out of the head gasket area, and its beginning to puff out a little blue smoke when you start it up or throttle it up, so im thinking its time to replace the gasket. I read that you may want to replace the head bolts too, is this necessary?
Thanks

 

[KieranM]

only if its an old engine, but the oil could be coming from bad rings also

 

[Sail8870]

would the oil be seeping from the head gasket area if it was bad rings? its a pretty old engine too.

 

[Russ2251]

I read that you may want to replace the head bolts too, is this necessary?

Nope. A simple re-torque of head bolts may solve the the leaking problem.
Where did you read this?

 

[KieranM]

I have seen head bolts broken upon refitting on old engines, happened to me, so I usually always replace them on engines over 15 or so years old, just a precaution.... Might mean nothing, but i do it where possible

 

[Russ2251]

I have seen head bolts broken upon refitting on old engines

Then somewhere along the line bolts were over tightened or were replaced with parts of incorrect strength. Bolts do not just simply "break". If they are the correct bolts, they will strip the block before breaking.
The only reason I have replaced bolts is for aesthetic reasons.
Some of my engines have the original bolts at some 80+ years old.

 

[KieranM]

Then somewhere along the line bolts were over tightened or were replaced with parts of incorrect strength. Bolts do not just simply "break". If they are the correct bolts, they will strip the block before breaking.
The only reason I have replaced bolts is for aesthetic reasons.
Some of my engines have the original bolts at some 80+ years old.

I think I will take your word on this one

 

[Sail8870]

Thanks for the help

 

[Bluethunder3320]

obviously it has bad rings if oil is coming out of the head gasket. you might want to consider an all around rebuild if it looks real bad.

 

[Russ2251]

obviously it has bad rings if oil is coming out of the head gasket.

Not necessarily.
All head gaskets leak to some extent...oil burning or not.
It can also be argued that all engines burn oil. Oil levels normally drop and cannot be attributed to anything affiliated to evaporation. So where does it go? Out the the exhaust port or breather (blow-by).
The line has to be drawn as to what is (perceived to be) too much leaking past rings or head gasket.
There is no such thing, ultimately, as a "perfect" seal...be it gasket or rings.
A certain amount of seepage is quite normal and expected.
Rebuild is not necessary unless it is determined that there is a significant loss of power.
Rebuild is a last resort.
I might also add that lighter oils (especially multi-grades) will leak/burn more quickly as evidenced by the brownish tinge on cylinder walls of older engines.

 

[Sail8870]

There is 5w-20 oil in it now, would this be considered light weight oil or heavy weight?

 

[Bluethunder3320]

generally 30 is standard, 20 and 40 are seasonal. but this isnt true for every motor.

 

[Russ2251]

There is 5w-20 oil in it now, would this be considered light weight oil or heavy weight?

Light.
10w30 would be best below freezing.

 

[DustinWolfe]

Not necessarily.
All head gaskets leak to some extent...oil burning or not.
It can also be argued that all engines burn oil. Oil levels normally drop and cannot be attributed to anything affiliated to evaporation. So where does it go? Out the the exhaust port or breather (blow-by).
The line has to be drawn as to what is (perceived to be) too much leaking past rings or head gasket.
There is no such thing, ultimately, as a "perfect" seal...be it gasket or rings.
A certain amount of seepage is quite normal and expected.
Rebuild is not necessary unless it is determined that there is a significant loss of power.
Rebuild is a last resort.
I might also add that lighter oils (especially multi-grades) will leak/burn more quickly as evidenced by the brownish tinge on cylinder walls of older engines.

i agree also bad valve guides combined with a bad h/g can leak oil

 

[Bluethunder3320]

i dont think too much oil would leak if the valve guides were bad, but possibly.

 

[Kenny_McCormic]

Some OHV engine tend to blow out between the push rod cavity and bore, unless it uses torque to yield bolts (usually only seen in automotive stuff) you can reuse the bolts.

 

[Rustydog2010]

Nope. A simple re-torque of head bolts may solve the the leaking problem.
Where did you read this?

Read any manuel and they more than likely tell you to replace the head bolts. But as we both know its not really necessary.

 

[Bluethunder3320]

but when they break, it really sucks! thats why you torque them in slight increments and be really careful.

 

[Russ2251]

Read any manuel and they more than likely tell you to replace the head bolts.

Show me.