Hey Guys,

I am in the middle of replacing my blown head gasket and had a couple of questions.

1. I have the head removed, and have been scraping off the remnants of the head gasket from the block. No matter how hard I tried, some of the gasket fell into the water and oil passages in the block. I have fished some of it out, but there is some I can't get to. What can I do besides an oil and coolant flush once I get it back together? What potential problems could this cause?

2. Any trick to getting the PVC out of the valve cover?

 

You'll need a good pair of vice grips to pull the damn PCV out. Wiggle the hell out of it.

As far as the gasket material, I'd run a hose down the coolant passages, it'll run it on out the thermostat hole (be t-stat is removed). You are going to need to change your oil out anyway....next time, stuff rags in them or tape 'em up.

 

If you have a wet/dry shop vac handy, you can usually get most of that crud out of the coolant passages easily enough. If left there, it will more than likely cause a restriction in the radiator or heater core. The signifigance of the restriction depends on the amount of residual gasket material that made its way into the coolant passages. If it is a minor amount, you will never know it is there.

 

2. I set it on fire. I'm not being facetious either. I sprayed the grommet with whatever flamable spray I had in my hands and I lighted it. The black hard plastic grommet is actually rubber than has lost its flexibility from exposure to heat. It was really easy remove after it had partially melted.

 

try to avoid getting much down there but if some does i always replace all fluids again after about a week or so to flush anything out.

 

x2 I use wd40 and a lighter....

 

Thanks for the info guys, maybe I will try a heat gun and vice grips first, and if that doesn't work........

I don't know why they needed to make the PVC Valve such a PITA to remove!

 

It's PCV not PVC =p Positive Crankshaft Vent

heat? Just cut it off or break it apart. If its hard to remove, its time for a new one. They're DIRT cheap at a parts store.

As for the HG. Usually the majority of the gasket will come off as it went on. Anything that sticks, I reccomend using a wire wheel to clean the block surface. Your wasting time with a razor blade, or "gasket scraper" imo. Be there all day and still wont get it all off.

plastic baggies shuved in the coolant and passages works well. Plastic vs like paper towel, won't tear and get stuck.