1985-1998 [Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
 | [Main 9000 Bulletin Board | BBFAQ |
Prev by Date | Next by Date | Post Followup ]
Member Login / Signup - Members see fewer ads. - Latest Member Gallery Photos
Head bolt success Posted by JerseySaab [Email]  (#666) [Profile/Gallery]
(more from JerseySaab) on Wed, 12 Aug 2015 16:18:17
Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup
|
My '95 CSE had the common small trickle of oil at the front-left corner of the engine. Close examination showed that it was indeed coming from the junction of the head and block, not the cam cover or the plugged distributor hole.
It has been reported that the original bolts can be retorqued even though they stretch. However not knowing if this had been done before, and not wanting to risk a head bolt breaking off and the resulting pain, I elected to replace them.
I had a Rambler Mentality moment and instead of ordering the Saab-branded parts ordered the Febi bolts from Eeuroparts which were 1/2 the price. They were labeled "Made in Sweden" and looked identical to the newest-style bolts in the Anders photo. So they may actually be from the OEM manufacturer.
After letting the engine cool overnight I followed the factory retorque procedure but removed and replaced one bolt at a time instead of just loosening and retorquing. (I used the new, lower torque settings and an angle guage for the final 90 degree twist.) The bolts near the leaking corner were definitely looser than the others.
Getting the new cam cover gaskets to stay in place was a bit of a pain. I used dabs of super glue near the bolt holes to keep them from falling out during installation of the cover.
Frankly this was all a bit scary given the potential consequences of ruining the head gasket, but the results were excellent. I've driven the car around for a while now, all is fine, and no more oil trickling down the side of the engine.
Probably I should have replaced the upper chain pad while the cam cover was off but just didn't think of it. (It's not making any noise or anything, but as long as I was in there... D'oh!)
, Wed, 12 Aug 2015 16:18:17 <-- Viewing This Message
No Site Registration is Required to Post - Site Membership is optional (Member Features List), but helps to keep the site online
for all Saabers. If the site helps you, please consider helping the site by becoming a member.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
