Hi, i noticed the head hasket on my truck is starting to seep again. It is leaking at the front passenger side of the engine, same place as before I replaced the head gasket last september...

Should I try re-torquing the head? Any tips on re-torquing?

Also, I hate the thought of having to use stop leak but i also dont want to do another head gasket either. Should I try some stop leak??? If so, what kind should I try?

Whats your opinions on using radiator stop leak???

Thanks, any input welcome.

 

I don't like stop leak stuff because they also plug up radiators and heater cores. One time in the life of a vehicle, as an emergency measure, wouldn't hurt anything, but it can certainly accumulate in the system...Mark

 

GM has a pellet type product they sell through the dealers. As I understand it was developed to seal porous castings in the early Northstar engines. I've had really good luck with it and it doesn't seem to build up in the system. That said I'd try a retorque first. There have been several threads.

 

Don't take the risk of it plugging up other important components of the cooling system. Fix it right and not with a band-aid.

 

Yea, dont want to plug nuthin but the leak for sure. I'll probly do the re-torq, hopefully it does the trick. Thanks everyone

 

I would definatley try the retorque first...with that being said...If you have a vehicle that you wanna try to squeak by, Blue Devil head gasket sealer does work. It is expensive, $50 bucks for a quart! But i've used it on 2 malibu's, they are very bad on leaking intake gaskets and head gaskets. I hesitate to use it on the cummins because of the oil coolers small fins.

 

I would just re do the head gasket. I just bought one for my spare motor @ NAPA for 41 dollars...fel-pro. Only should take about 9 hours start to finish. Then you dont have to worry about it anymore. Also, when I didn the head gasket on my daily driver...I re-torques it 3 times or I should say 3 heat cycles. So far so good.

You can try to re-torque it, cant hurt.

 

Bars Stop Leak, not sure of the spelling it comes in a silver plastic bottle at almost all auto-parts stores. I tend to agree with the others that say to redo the head gasket. If you choose to go that route you might consider adding at your sealant to the area that has been linking. Just my two cents, Mike.