Headgasket leaking?

[nuron]

Is this what it is? When I wipe it dry, it gets damp after a little while. How much would machining the head surface cost?

[Jimnist]

Lol, this is NOT the head gasket XD It's the valve cover gasket. Very easy to replace and AFAIK, you don't need to machine it. Just a good clean of the surface with any solvent e.g. kero, turps, acetone, a scotch-brite pad and a stanley blade, metal ruler or anything metal with an edge to scrape any crap off.

What's it damp with? It doesn't look like oil.

[nuron]

Haha awesome . I was thinking it's the HG because it got close-to-overheat a couple of times in the past because of a faulty thermostat. Jimnist, I think it is oil, I just wiped off the residue. Unless it's something else...

[zppeacock]

Mine does it also, I just leave it.

[nuron]

How do you guys go about scraping off the old headgasket and cleaning it? I will start this on Saturday.

[PaulyJay]

you want to "scrape" the old HG away? are you wanting to do a replacement? or fix the above mentioned issue? the "issue" above is common with our age cars, and newer too, if you want to do the head gasket, you'll want to get the head machined, pressure tested, etc. and just doing the gasket would be a waste, you'd need to do the Valve Stem Seals, and other seals, and gaskets too. not a simple "i'll do it this weekend" task. confer with your local mechanic about it. we can all give you info, and pics, but the face to face contact will solve a lot of the ambiguities of the conversation.

[atobe]

he's not talking about his HG read the rest of the thread he's talking about his valve cover gasket... just use a putty knife and a razor.. that's all you can do really becareful not to chip the metal though

[nuron]

Pauly, sorry about that, I meant the VC gasket haha--but thanks for the information though, I didn't know you had to do the valve seals too! Putty knife and razor it is!