Hello all,

I have a 1988 240 with 203,000 miles on it and where the head meets the block, oil is leaking. It is doing this only on one side of the engine(the intake manidold side) Would it be okay to tighten the head bolts down a touch or just go for a new head gasket?

Thanks for any responses

Adrian

Thanks for all the responses guys. I think I will clean the area thoroughly and then keep an eye on it after every trip I make.

Thanks again

Adrian

On my 88𖑭 it started leaking on the exchute side the second head bolt from the front.I took my time and checked the torque little by little till I found what the torque was set at I then add 5 pounds and a new valve cover gasket and that stopped the leak. As I was reading the reply of others I didn't know that thatwas the pressure hole there. You learn something every day. If that doesn't fix the head then pull and redo but use new head bolts.

Clean the area carefully and monitor it. The high pressure passageway from the block to head is around the second exhaust side headbolt. Therefore the leak on the intake manifold side may very well be something else. The oil returns by gravity alone, and so there is little chance that the leak is from that at the head gasket joint.
If it doesn't spot the driveway, don't worry about it.

The leak could also be the cam or intermedeate shaft seals on the front of the engine. When was the last time they were replaced? Good luck Dan
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85 245 M46 191K, 92 245 A70 118K

My ride, a 1990 240 b230f, was doing the same thing on the exhaust side... it was the head gasket... and I had to replace it.

This is not to say that I could have driven for months or years with this very small weepage as my gear head friends suggested, but at 180,000k I opted for the permanant fix. New everything including sensors, gaskets, seals, bolts, a head rebuild w/ gasket matches, peaning & painting the exhaust manifold, and a VX cam to boot.

I love my ride and saving the cash to do a excellent job was no problem for me.

As the others more importantly note, if the leak can not be reduced to something else then the very likely culprit is the head gasket.

Head gasket failure is relatively unheard of on the normally aspirated motors. Are you absolutely sure that the oil is not leaking from another location? The flame trap is also located on the intake side of the motor, for instance. A bad seal at the filler cap could result in oil to running down the valve cover and down the side of the head.

I agree with not taking the head off until other possible sources of the leak have been eliminated for sure. If not leaking around the oil cap, remove the valve cover and have a look. Scrap out any crud build-up down in the channels where the oil drains back to the sump. With the slant of the engine, the oil should drain towards the exhaust side. At the point where the cam shaft comes through the front of the valve cover is a place for oil leaks. I use a sealant on top and bottom of the valve cover gasket in this area. The seal itself could also be worn out and leaking. Be sure the PCV stuff is all clean so there is negative pressure under the valve cover when the oil cap is removed at idle. Don't forget the half moon at the back of the valve cover. I'd have a new valve cover gasket and half moon in hand before removing the valve cover. jp

i have not seen a bolt tighten stop a head gasket leak. i know of someone who has a broken head bolt from a head gasket leak, so tightening yours might give the same result. good luck, chuck.

Head gaskets are made of a pretty sturdy material and there is metal incorporated into the gasket. Head bolts are normally installed with a very specific torque on them. Bearing down on the bolts may cause worse problems than an oil leak. I'd go for changing the gasket, which is pretty involved but doable with the right tools and manual.