Oil leak at head -------------> SOLVED !!

I may be removing the head as soon as today, so I will keep the post updated. One thing I can never stand on forums is when someone posts a problem, asking for help etc, several things are suggested, then you never hear anything back! Forums are only helpful if the solution is found, and noted in the post.

@87forever, good to know there is another person with a similar issue, I was beginning to think I had a rare unheard of issue.

SOLVED !!!!!!!

So I decided to go ahead and remove the head today. To my surprise, (and in a way relief) I found the problem...... (you can click on the pictures for a bigger view)


another shot



one more which MIGHT explain why it was leaking oil....



How the H**L could someone install the gasket like that and not notice it does not line up with SEVERAL holes? It is even partially blocking the oil passage!

not only that, but as I was taking things apart, anywhere there was "sealant" added, I think they used silicone, like the stuff you'd use to caulk around a sink !!

So I removed all the gasket material from everything I had apart, and installed the NEW head gasket, even had it running for a little bit (not running it for very long, I want to clean up all the oil residue first, from when it leaked so badly.

anyway, THIS looks a little better.....



oh cool, I made the holes line up!!



I did not end up taking the head into the shop, it looked fine, and obviously the gasket was the issue, and as mentioned it is a beater truck.
It just feels good to have found the problem and getting it resolved!

it took about an hour from start to finish to remove the head
and then I spent a few hours cleaning up gasket surfaces ( took my time) and then reinstalling the head.

Good that is clearly the gasket.Symptoms are so everywhere,and I am leaning to getting my head done to the letter on my hg work.Nice

This makes me feel a little silly. I was typing a reply saying that perhaps the gasket isn't sitting correctly... But then thought, no, it can't be, you can't put them on backwards or anything, even looked up the picture of the gasket again and all, lol.
Not that it would have made any difference, you'd have to have pulled it to check. Lol.
Glad you found the problem, nice work.

Amazing that a mechanic or previous owner would (apparently) have enough background to pull a cylinder head, and yet not be able to observe that he had flipped the head gasket. This is SO obvious that one wonders how he could not have seen this, or took the time to check this out.

I think I agree with Jenko: very tough to "logically" figure out an answer when something so illogical had been done. I'm guessing that we NEVER hear of someone doing this again, figure it would be so rare. I'm not saying that manufacturers should stamp "front" or "top" on these things, but I guess we put instructions on how to open/unwrap a bar of soap.

I guess we all learn something every day. Great job, and thanks for documenting with photos.

OK, a question. To do the head removal, did you just unbolt the intake and exhaust and shove to the sides, or did you have to raise the engine a little too? Just wondering, thanks.

Perhaps my brain isn't working this early in the morning, but what is the intake resting on so neatly that it looks like it hasn't moved after the head removal?

I did type a reply, but it did not show up... well I'll try again.

The intake was unbolted and just gently and slowly set aside without unhooking anything except the distributor advance vacuum hose, I had read other posts regarding people doing that, and it worked great for me! I sure beats unhooking the spaghetti of vacuum lines!

The exhaust was unbolted and from the head, and just pushed aside, I had about 2 inches of clearance from the exhaust manifold studs.

The front cover was also just unbolted, and moved just far enough to allow me to remove the head... although later while cleaning the gasket, I was about done and wondered why I didn't just remove it, I mean its only 2 hoses, and 1 wire for the sensor....

But I was amazed at how easy it was to remove the head.

The only thought that comes to mind regarding the gasket mistake, it is possible that quite a few frosty beverages were downed before the project began, if the person was sober, there is no excuse!

The engine did have a decent tick previously, and I just chalked it up to being a common issues, knowing this has the hydraulic rockers... But it appears when you have the proper oil flow, that noise goes away (or at least in my case it did.)