Head gaskets

[John]

Just finished an engine rebuild and having run it a few times there's some oil making it's way down the underside of the passenger footwell.

The cylinder head gasket edge looks wet. First thoughts are that the head gasket oil gallery seals are leaking. The gasket was from Gary Kemp and I was told to "fit dry".

Has anyone one else used these gaskets? The workshop manual says to use Wellseal around the oil gallery before fitting a new head gasket. I didn't, I followed the advice given by the gasket supplier.

As that advice has already resulted in me having to replace water pump, thermostat and inlet manifold gaskets which when fitted dry resulted in numerous coolant leaks, I'm thinking I should have followed the manual and used Wellseal on the head gasket.

I've looked for leaks from the valve covers and other usual suspects and all look dry, so I'm expecting the worse.

[Gray14]

I did a cylinder head overhaul 9 months with a MLS (metal layer system?) gasket with Wellseal and all is ok with no leaks.

I previously spoke to Gary Kempe who said to use Wellseal with this type of gasket, which is what was originally fitted using Coopers gaskets, which is what I found when I took the head off, not bad for 40 years and no sign of failure. I bought the gasket for £50 incl from Martin Robey who supply parts fro the Jensen Healy engines.

On the gasket covers I followed the recommendation of an experienced Jensen Healy You Tuber who used RTV (room temperature vulcanising) sealant without gaskets and so far this hasn’t leaked.

[John]

Thanks Graham, I'm going to have a very close look for other leakage before committing to taking the head off, but it's sounding like Wellseal was required. At least around the oil galleries.

I've asked Garry Kemp for his thoughts on this, and will post on here when I hear from him.

Cheers John

[Gray14]

Did you use a MLS or Kevlar gasket?

[John]

It came as part of a set, I don't think it was MLS;

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/273503968434 ... Sw~~hl3hL5

[John]

Garry Kemp got back to me about the gasket, the one in the kit is fitted dry. The only pressurised oil feed that goes to the head is via a small hole on the inlet side of cylinder no. 1. The gasket has a built in seal, orange colour in the picture, so no Wellseal required.

He said an oil leak from the head joint is extremely unlikely. He asked if I'd sealed the cam pulley bolts with silicone, apparently oil can leak from the camshaft oil way. I used threadlock on mine and they are bone dry.

I need to run the engine a few more times to trace this leak, current theory is crank pulley oil seal.

I did ask Garry if the non-MLS head gaskets need re-torquing after the engine has run a few times. There's no suggestion in the service manual that this is required, but these are different gaskets to the original. I'll ask again and will share his response.

[John]

Garry has got back to me about re-torquing of head gaskets. Lotus don't note this as being necessary with MLS or composite gaskets, but in his experience most gaskets settle a little after fitting so there's no harm in doing so if you wish. Most people don't bother though.

I'm going to leave mine alone for now and investigate other possible sources of the oil leak, but I'm re-assured that the head gasket is unlikely to be the cause.