So I'm just taking thing apart to replace my cam shaft seals, cus oil is leaking down from them. As I start to take the plug wires out I notice some red fluid in the spark plug wells. Now I have had a very small coolant leak ever since my head swap, so I figure ah. I soak some of it up with a paper towel and yes it smells like coolant. The #1/#2 well has quite a bit in it, #3/#4 well had only the tiniest bit of residue around the coolant plug threads, and #5/#6 had residue in the well, but no fresh coolant was present. Here are the pics I took:


Plugs #1 & #2


Plugs #3 & #4


Plugs #5 & #6

So I figure that I will need to fix the #1/#2 coolant plug as the others seem to be solid. So right now I am looking for the torque and proper sealant to use and will update this as thing progress.


Update 19 Jun 2004:
The machine shop was able to pull them with an impact wrench. This should make some of you feel better cus you can do the repair on the car. I of course removed my head but live learn then die.

I used a wire brush and brake cleaner to clean up the threads very well. Then I coated the threads lightly with Permex Ultra Grey and put a plug in. Removed it coated the plug with UG and put it in, then removed it did that again and sealed it with 15ft/lb. The ultra gray just started to squeeze out the top. Don't put hordes on you just want to be sure there are no bubbles. And don't make it super tight and squeeze out all the UG.

I did find there was noticeable scale on the cylinders that were leaking, along with more carbon buildup than I would like to see after 8 months since being cleaned. But my work is only 7 miles away. I cleaned them up with MCCC. After its all back together I'll add the pics to my site page and update you if I get geysers :). My retorque is scheduled for the weekend of July 4th, so expect an update by then or email me if you can't wait.


Update 28 Aug 2004:
Its August 28th now and no signs of leaking so it seems the fix worked great so here are the steps, a word of warning you might strip the threads on the head pulling these out, its fixable, but more of a PITA then:
  1. Order 3 new plugs (wait till you get these)
  2. Buy a tube of ultra gray and a stiff brass brush
  3. Drain the Radiator
  4. Take off the cam covers, and everything needed to do that
  5. Use an impact wrench to remove those three plugs
  6. Clean the threads on the head really well with the brush and vacuum up when done.
  7. Lightly coat the first head threads with ultra gray and do the same with the new plug threads
  8. Lightly screw in the plug then remove it
  9. Recoat the plug threads and lightly screw it in
  10. Use a torque wrench to set it at 15 ft/lb if it doesn't have a little gray squeezing out then repeat 9 again.
  11. Repeat 7-10 for the other two
  12. Put is all back together, but don't start the car or put coolant in for 36-48 hours while it dries really well.