Procedure on removing cylinder heads from RV8? (2024)

al mackenzie wrote:Rookie question: Finally got around to further tinkering with my P6 engine at the weekend. Took off one cylinder head, really smelly, guess that's some sort of threadlock reacting with the penetrating oil I've been dousing it in? My workshop manual says to clean the bolts immediately, but makes no mention of the threaded holes in the block! They're still full of this stinky gunk, what should I use to clean it out? Can it be left to harden to be removed with a thread-cutting tool at a later date? Do I swab at with cotton buds? Advice very welcome indeed. Thanks

Not sure that there should be any thread lock on the head bolts. I've always thought that thread lock in an aluminium thread is asking for trouble.

If I was you I'd get a couple of cans of aerosol clutch and brake cleaner, ones with the thin pipes that can be attached to the nozzle. block up all the water way holes and cylinder bores then give each hole a good blast!

You could run one of the cleaned up and lightly oiled head bolts up and down the holes a few time as well to dislodge any crap

HTH,

Pete

The workshp manual says to use 3M EC 776 "lubricant-sealant" on each of the head bolts.

I was able to use a thread cutter to clear out the threads in the block after cleaning and power washing. (Obviously the whole engne was dismantled)

Pocket rocket wrote:The workshp manual says to use 3M EC 776 "lubricant-sealant" on each of the head bolts.

I was able to use a thread cutter to clear out the threads in the block after cleaning and power washing. (Obviously the whole engne was dismantled)

I take your point on-board but sealant isn't quite the same as thread-lock, the first post mentions thread lock, having said that I'm sure that the sealant ends up as a hard mess in the threads

sidecar wrote:[I'm sure that the sealant ends up as a hard mess in the threads

It sure does