leaking head gasket

G

garyb1

Junior Member
I have a leaking head gasket in my 41 flat head. Steam comes out of the oil filler breather. After i repl gasket should i flush engine with fresh oil, drain that and then put fresh oil in ?

Thanks garyb1
 
are you sure its a head gasket? I blew a head gasket once but white smoke was coming out the tail pipes.
 
Lawson-you are so encouraging-let him hope it is the head gasket. You may be correct but hope springs eternal.
 
if you have steam coming out of the oil fill pipe you have water in the oil pan, pull both heads and check real close for any cracks, start pulling spark plugs till you find one that is real clean, maybe even white, with no carbon on the plug, if you find one like that you have probably found the water leak
 
I just had this same problem with my 36. I had water droplets coming from the tail pipe and the oil was milky. I was really hoping for a bad head gasket and not a cracked block or cylinder. After pulling the heads which was a real BEAR. (They were siezed to the studs). I found 2 pistons with very little carbon on the lower third of the piston top and I could see evidence of pitting of the copper head gasket between a water pasage and these cylinders. I replaced the head gaskets with Best Graphtite gaskets and started it up today. So far so good. Not signs of water in the exhaust or oil. I'm gonna retorque tomorrow and check everything again.
I hope you have similar Good Luck!
 
Just my two cents worth, but I would remove the spark plugs, ensure radiator is full and beg,steal or borrow a cooling system pressure tester.Pump it up to what ever your cap pressure is and leave it sit a couple of days,water should appear at the plug hole or holes, this saves you pulling the head of the good side, turn the engine one revolution by hand after a day in case of an open valves and water running out the exhaust. Kiwi Tony.
 
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