Oil leak exhaust manifold stud

[gandyrail]

Scared to tighten this stud, it drips oil and does not feel right when I try to tighten _ I think PO stripped the head threads but maybe it's "It may be turning easy because of all the oil. Any one have luck putting a heli thread in with out pulling head? Do I just smoke this summer and smell a bit. Can I pull that one stud and put some red lock tight on?

Running 81 2000 fuel injected with stock exhaust manifold

[joelittel]

Wouldn't putting a helicoil in with the head on get metal shavings in everything?

I don't think that's a good idea.

[wizard124]

Back when I was re-installing the exhaust manifold, I felt the #2 nut give. I couldn't torque it much so I decided to leave it be and hope for the best. I noticed smoke and fumes coming from the gasket area that had worsened over these past couple of weeks. I learned from a different thread that this stud can leak oil. Upon closer inspection this was evident and a slight bubbling around the edge of the gasket was also observed.

Tore into this problem over the past 2 days. The stud was wobbly loose in the head and removed easily. I suppose I was lucky in that the stud was not broken off in the head.

Here is my fix:
1) I ran a tap into the head (1.25 x 8mm) to clean it. Blew it clean with compressed air and sprayed an acetone based carb cleaner fluid into the hole.
2) I used a different stud that had deeper threads to provide a bite on any undamaged threads.
3) I used JB Weld hi strength epoxy. I dabbed some in the hole with a small screwdriver and on the threads of the stud.
4) I threaded in the stud until it felt just snug, not wanting to strip any more head threads. I let it set up for 24 hours.

Success! The stud stayed tight. I need to drive the car for a while to burn off the residual oil in the gasket and re-inspect.

[gandyrail]

Thanks for the suggestion Wizzard, I had not thought about JB Weld. I fixed a cracked water jacket in a Nova engine that froze in a boat with JB Weld and it lasted for years. I would consider this a temporary fix until the head comes off at some point.

[KevAndAndi]

If the stud is in OK shape, the standard fix involves removing it and applying high-temperature silicone sealant before reinstalling.

[scottmercer]

Just another thought in response to just smoking for the summer.

I have cam tower gasket that started leaking last fall and smoking pretty bad. I didn't get around to fixing it over the winter. Getting back to to investigating it last week, I ultimately just ended up cleaning up my engine a bit and it no longer smokes. I think I'll just keep this up till fall and I get a chance to repair it. Food for thought?

[aj81spider]

Check your oil regularly and enjoy the ride!

[Dawgme85]

The holes for the 2 upper manifold studs are open to the oil passages; hence the oil leaks if the studs are not sealed. Tapping the holes has the potential to introduce aluminum shavings into the engine oil. Not a good idea. To avoid oil leakage past the studs, some form of high temperature sealant should be applied to the threads and the studs should then be fully screwed into the holes. If you notice, the studs are threaded differently on each end, more threads on one end. The end with the shorter thread length should go into the head. I double nut the other end so that I can fully bottom out the stud in the head. Good luck.

[gandyrail]

Thank-you all for your sugestions.
Since I got some time in my schedule I will be taking the manifold off this weekend; unless I go fishing..
Yes, I agree with joelittel; I'm not going to get metal shavings in the oil.
If the threads look pretty OK I will use a sealant, hopefully nothing more than lok-tight. I have a bottle of high temp thread sealant that I got many years ago but the that stuff is getting pretty thick and I'm not sure I can find it anymore.
I will let you all know what I determine for the stud.
The exhaust manifold will be off! I will sand-blast it and apply Eastwood inside and out ceramic paint. Maybe less heat in the engine bay will let you know