Stupid Fel-Pro

[ronaconda]

how are the head gaskets seeping coolant? I would suggest a pressure check so you can find the exact point of the leak... is it going into the cylinder or outside of the engine?

Outside

[3400-95-Modified]

how are the head gaskets seeping coolant? I would suggest a pressure check so you can find the exact point of the leak... is it going into the cylinder or outside of the engine?

[ronaconda]

Beginning to wonder if i spoke to soon. But it may not be Fel-pro's fault. The Fel-pro RWD head gaskets that i put on my FWD 3.1 less than a year and 4000 miles ago are seeping coolant...

[geoffinbc]

Yea I know but I have never tried one and did not want to take a chance on something not working out on a Sunday. I have run around like a mad man on a sunday evening trying to get things last minute too many times. Everything went real smooth and I only needed to get 4 bolts so I will put this weekend in the win column!

[ForcedFirebird]

I could not re use the old damper the groove where the seal was riding was too deep and too rough to fix.

There's a repair sleeve for the groove if the damper is still in good shape.

[geoffinbc]

Oh and on a good note the COMP Cams chain and sprockets are looking very good. No wear on any of the sprocket teeth and the chain is still tight. The aftermarket damper is also in good shape with no broken corners.

[geoffinbc]

Ok all fixed. The leak was coming from the timing cover gasket where the little bypass hole is on the pump inlet. The gasket was all mushy and there was a visible leak path. The new gaskets are both Victor gaskets which in indeed the same and a GM gasket. They both have the same markings. I put a little smear of RTV on both sides of the gasket where the bypass hole is to hopefully prevent any future problems.

I put a new GM seal and Power Bond damper which measure out perfectly compared to the stock one. The only snag was that they drilled and tapped the bolt holes for a SAE fine thread bolt and not Metric. I was kinda pissed but had no choice there was no other brands available locally so I just used SAE bolts. I could not re use the old damper the groove where the seal was riding was too deep and too rough to fix.

[geoffinbc]

$300 was the GM dealer price and I get staff discount because my dad is the service manager! $50 was with my discount for a Power Bond one. It is actually made in Australia! Yes it is a true damper with a cast iron center elastomer membrane and an iron outer ring. I guess I should not have called it a balancer since it is neutral balance.

[3400-95-Modified]

ACdelco ones can be had for $60 on RA for a 93 S10, the Dorman version is $38... I have no idea who would have tried to charge him $300, and sometimes you need to remember your not paying for the quality or name brand, but more for the hands that handle the item before it reaches you.

[TGP37]

He probably means aftermarket like OEM aftermarket, which they are under $100 and yes have the stock rubber dampener in there.

Wow, normally I tend to be cautious at best if I find an aftermarket product sold at a fraction of the OEM alternative.

[geoffinbc]

I wish it was just the bolts but I know I sealed the right bolt that requires sealant and unfortunately I can clearly see it is coming from the gasket. I bought some gasket sealer spray and will apply it to the gaskets before I start. I also bought a new GM crank seal and a new balancer just in case mine has a bad groove on the seal surface. I am going to get this done tomorrow. I have done it once on my S-10 in the truck when I had to change out a cam and have also done it on my Trooper once before on the old 2.8L.

[Tbay99Venture]

Yeah, a remember a flimsy blue paper gasket and I said to myself "is this thing going to work?" I put some brown form uh gask-2 goo on it.

+1 on that. RTV is great but this is the trick for the paper gaskets and water, or limited exposure to oil.

[ForcedFirebird]

right stuff it. I have had good luck with dorman, felpro, and gm.

Yup. The Right Stuff is awesome and actually has a GM part number since that's what they use at the factory (also Ford and Mopar part numbers). Just a thin layer on each side of the gasket works wonders. We can't take chances at the shop, returns don't pay the bills.

[talon2swords]

I put, I think, a Felpro timing cover gasket on my 1999, 3100 engine a few years ago. I still have problems with it leaking, but I found out it was around the larger outside bolt (holes). They come untightened and it leaks out there.

I got pissed and put some black RV on the underside of the bolt head and put blue loctite on the thread portion. Stopped leak (last time i checked), so I didn't have to replace stupid gasket again.

Yeah, a remember a flimsy blue paper gasket and I said to myself "is this thing going to work?" I put some brown form uh gask-2 goo on it.

[3400-95-Modified]

He probably means aftermarket like OEM aftermarket, which they are under $100 and yes have the stock rubber dampener in there.