jcc0016

Hey Guys,

I was wondering if there are any symptoms or tell tale signs of a broken head bolt? How would I check? Not that I have any, I just have have been reading horror stories of it happening from mis shifts or over revving.
Just need some info to keep me aware of the possibilities and what to keep an eye out for.

TIA, Jeremy

Kurt V

listen for a metallic slapping noise and a pfft, pfft, pfft sound.

timlooney

Jeremy, pull off the valve covers and see if there are any missing nuts or loose ones sitting in the cavity.

Good luck.

BartB

Like Tim said, the next time you have your valve covers off, check the barrel nuts that attach to the head studs. They are hex nuts (10mm i think) and should be torqued around 22-24 lbs. If they are really loose or have come off, then you have a problem.
It is an easy thing to check and will give you a lot of peace of mind if you are wondering about it.
When I first had my car I spent a couple of months bummed out becuase another p-car owner told me my car sounded like it had a loose head. I finally checked it out and found all the nuts were tight and properly torqued. It was a load off my mind. The sound turned out to be a very minor exhaust leak.

dial911

By the time you hear those noises, the damage is done. Always check for broken studs at valve adjustment time. You may catch the problem before head damage occurs.