Extra bolt left after head gasket

[shackwor]

A buddy and me just did my first ever head gasket replacement.
Surprising my car still runs (although I do have a "whistle" from rear of engine when I let off the gas, I assume vacuum leak...)
We tried to be careful and put bolts in labeled cups, etc. but
I do have one bolt leftover that somehow didn't get labeled in the process.
Everything is now seemingly back together (minus one extra bolt) but I'm hoping someone will recognize the bolt.

Anybody know this bolt?

I don't remember any other bolts quite this thick and short.

Important info:
Pontiac Aztek 2002
3400

[1988GTU]

8mm? Might be for the fuel rail.

[tractorman]

No- that's MUCH bigger than an 8mm. Besides, the fuel rail bolts have 6mm threads. I'm gonna say that's a 12mm X 1.75- unless of course this guy has really tiny hands.

My guess- and it's purely a guess- is that that bolt should be holding a motor mount bracket or something of that sort onto a head. It's about got to go in the head itself- there are no bolts that big in the LIM or the UIM.

[shackwor]

My rough measurement has it around 11 or 12 mm threading with a 15mm socket head though.
The threading fits in a 12 mm socket easily, but not an 11 mm...

[ForcedFirebird]

I agree with tractorman, probably from a bracket. The good thing is though, it's not long enough to penetrate into the oil/water passages - hopefully it won't cause a problem.

[sil]

hey alright a guessing game
im guessing it goes to a bracket/mount to the head (as already stated)
whats the prize? :P j/k

[SteveG]

Deleted

[Superdave]

looks like a bolt for the lift bracket on right side of the front head...

[Guest]

looks like a bolt for the lift bracket on right side of the front head...

That's exactly what I was originally thinking.

It might also be for a cable or coil pack bracket on teh rear of the engine.

What size is the head?

[86euro]

Maybe it's for the canooter valve, lol. Possibly to bolt the oil or tranny dipstick tube to the head?

[shackwor]

It's got a 15mm head on that bolt.
I've got the bolt for the oil dipstick in place, so that one's confirmed out.
I've also thought it would be on the lift bracket but haven't found a missing bolt on that one.

I really appreciate the ideas everybody has given me, but it's starting to look like I'll only find it if I redo the entire job. Which may happen if my whistle isn't a vacuum line leak but a gasket leaking compression air. Might open another thread for thoughts on that issue though.

[green_souljah]

Only one? We had about seven left over.

haha!


"Miscellaneous Bolts"

[Rhedalert]

Did you guys have to remove a support bracket for an upper engine mount? Maybe it's for one of those.

[dbtk2]

haha i have a box of bolts left over from mine........

like was said by everyone else, looks like a bolt for some kind of a mount/bracket. Chances are there are 4 others holding it on so I wouldn't worry too much about it, I would just keep an eye on it to make sure there isn't something obviously missing and keep it just in case you do figure out what it is.

[alerored04]

around my place we call that mechanical lightening of the vehicle. Do enough repair work on your own and the car will shed several pounds of bolts. Lol.