Reading a head gasket

J

jeepguy1948

Well-known member
I have a thread going already about the 509G head gasket. I don’t want that thread to go down a rabbit hole so I’m starting this new thread. I don’t have much experience reading head gaskets and none at all with graphite gaskets.
What am I looking for? I can see what appears to me to be a problem between #2 & #3 cylinders and the oblong coolant hole in the center. There looks to be a path of exhaust gasses (wet oil/carbon, I can’t think of a better way to explain what I’m seeing. I don’t believe that I could post a picture good enough to show what I’m looking at) from the cylinders to the oblong hole. I would like to hear what I should be looking for.
 
You have found it. It was leaking.

Are you seeing this on the side of the gasket that faces the block? Or facing the head?

Go ahead and post some pictures. You never know what you will see.

Did you spray the gasket with anything before installing?

After you get it all cleaned up, you need to use a straight edge on both the head and the block to measure any low spots you may have. It is OK for a 0.001" feeler gauge to pass under the straight edge in spots, but not a 0.002" feeler gauge.
 
Cylinder head side. Head is currently at the machine shop being magnafluxed so they will check it for true and surface it if it needs truing up. I will put a straight edge on the block.
 
I cannot figure out how to post pictures here. If someone provides a cell phone number I will send the pictures to you and you can post them. 206-818-9552
 
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At the bottom of the thread, click on "Go advanced", click on the paper clip icon (near top centre), Click on "Choose file", double click on the file (picture) that you want to post, after it's name appears in the list, click upload
 
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