I have just rebuilt my B18A1 engine and got my motor back in the car (90 integra LS) and I can’t get the head gasket to seal. The head has been milled and the block has been decked so both ends are true. I reused the headbolts b/c I have had success on other B18 using them again. I keep getting a leak at the driver side front corner of the engine. It’s not gushing but is enough to not like it. I have purchased ARP head studs and installed them and I got the same result. The whole head seals but that corner. I don’t get any coolant or oil in the combustion chamber at all. Nothing is mixing and it’s just coolant coming passed the seal. I did use a aftermarket head gasket. The only thing really left to try is a OEM headgasket and to make sure all the studs are seated all the way in the block. This is the only problem with the rebuild.
Another thing I need is a wiring diagram that shows how the radiator fan is wired up. I got the car with the fan wired into the ignition switch to come on when the power gets turned on. I want to fix the problem that the previous owner neglected. Does anyone have a picture of a interior fuse block or cover so I can check all my fuses. I searched and only found one for a sedan.
Thanks for the help. I will be on here a lot more now. I also have a 89 CRX HF getting ready for a all motor non vtec 2.0L build w/ B16 transmission coming. The integra will eventually get a little turbo like a T25 for daily use.
my guess would be whoever machined the head and or block (mating surfaces) did a crappy job. get a straight metal ruler and check for clearances. the machinist may have pushed down on the head or block when pulling them out of the machine causing the corners of the head and or block to be carved off too much…resulting in a bad seal. happened to me.
Did you follow a torque pattern and spec? If it is torqued properly with a new gasket it should not leak, Oem or aftermarket. Take it back to your machine shop and explain the problem.
Are you 100% positive that the coolant leak is actually at the head gasket and not somewhere else? I know that oil leaks often show themselves in that corner of the engine and people think it’s a head gasket when it’s a distributor seal, cam seal… or something of the sort. It’s really easy for fluids to leak somewhere on the head and then drain down to that corner of the engine.
As for the wiring, you need to get yourself a Helms manual. You shouldn’t be trying any serious work on the car w/o it.
[SIZE=“7”]IF[/SIZE] you are sure it’s the head gasket, another trick you can use is to spray it with copper rtv sealant. Lot of muscle car guys have used that to give them piece of mind. I few nissan guys i know use it too.
Umm, no. NEVER put sealant on a head gasket. If you have to put sealant on it, something is warped or done improperly. A head gasket is designed with any sealant needed inside the material. Adding sealant will make it fail.