New rebuilt engine have small leak (Page 1/2)
Ucycle OCT 22, 06:32 PM
So i purchased an AtK remanufactured 3.4 engine from lkq, when I bought the long block the guy said it won't have any warranty since I can't provide a Camaro vin. But when I pressurized the coolant system to 15 psi, I found a very small weep/leak in the head gasket right under the gauge temp sender. Lets just said I'm not that happy about it. I still haven't start the engine yet and don't know if it will get better or worse when the engine heats up. I'm going to call lkq tm tomorrow see what they can do since I still haven't start the engine yet.

What is my option for stopping the leak beside reinstalling a new head gasket?
I'm reading different forum and some suggest gm stop leak tablet, and re-torque the head bolts???
jmbishop OCT 22, 10:28 PM
New headgasket.

I know nothing about the company but I don't trust remanufactured engines in general, I've had bad experiences because they used the cheapest gaskets available and they disintegrated later on down the road.

If it was me, I'd be pulling it, getting a reputable gasket set and redoing anything that could be a problem gasket as well as going over it with a torque wrench.
theogre OCT 23, 04:44 PM
Do Not "re torque" head bolts unless you know what type of bolts.
Many are "Torque to Yield" type and are one time use items. If this type head bolt(s) is removed for any reason then need new bolts each time.
Many head gaskets don't like re torquing as well.

GM stop leak is same as Barr's etc. (GM is just Barr's product w/ GM label and markup.) Most are crush walnut shell w/ whatever added to that. Sometimes works well but often not or is a fix might last a year or two.
Worse confusion many new ones on the market and some are to "seal" a given problem but have no help to say if any are better for high $ sold at.
If you try stop leak do not re toque head bolts. Note that Stop leak to seal head and other small leaks can take a while to seal and may need a few heat cycles to work.

"I'm going to call lkq tm tomorrow see what they can do since I still haven't start the engine yet."
May not do anything because engine was sold w/o warranty.

------------------
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Ucycle OCT 24, 02:43 AM

quote
Originally posted by theogre:

Do Not "re torque" head bolts unless you know what type of bolts.
Many are "Torque to Yield" type and are one time use items. If this type head bolt(s) is removed for any reason then need new bolts each time.
Many head gaskets don't like re torquing as well.

GM stop leak is same as Barr's etc. (GM is just Barr's product w/ GM label and markup.) Most are crush walnut shell w/ whatever added to that. Sometimes works well but often not or is a fix might last a year or two.
Worse confusion many new ones on the market and some are to "seal" a given problem but have no help to say if any are better for high $ sold at.
If you try stop leak do not re toque head bolts. Note that Stop leak to seal head and other small leaks can take a while to seal and may need a few heat cycles to work.

"I'm going to call lkq tm tomorrow see what they can do since I still haven't start the engine yet."
May not do anything because engine was sold w/o warranty.



How can you tell its a TTY type of head bolts?
As of warranty, I still in the process of warranty submission. The warranty rep ask me to take pic of the leak plus pic of heat tabs (they supposed to melt when if the engine overheated) that were glue around the engine. But the problem is there were never any heat tabs install when i receive the engine. I wish I knew they normally install those heat tabs in rebuilt engine so i could have make a note with the LKQ sale rep about the missing heat tabs. Hope they back their product but I have feeling this warranty process will drag out for a while.
Ucycle OCT 24, 02:50 AM
here is a short video of leak when i pump the coolant system to 15 psi:
ATK motor head gasket leak.

If i don't get the warranty, should i try re-torque first(assuming the bolts can be re-torque), if that fail try bar's leak if that fail, redo the head gasket? or just go straight to redoing head gasket?
Ucycle OCT 24, 12:11 PM
So i got the response from LKQ/ATK warranty rep:
"Go ahead and pick up some head gaskets locally. Once you have them replaced let me know and I’ll arrange to have the originals picked up. The gaskets will go through the inspectors here, and if a manufacturing defect is found, LKQ will reimburse you for the gaskets and $40 for fluids."

Pretty much they are only warranty the part(head gaskets) and no labor and negating that it could be the head tolerance is off or improper head bolt torque. I'll never buy a ATK engine again, seems like their moto is build something without much QC and let the customer finish their work later. I don't know if this is standard practice for rebuilt engine in the industry but its pretty shitty. Oh well lesson learn.

So i probably do either re-torque the bolt or bar's leak, if that fails i will re-do the gasket as last resort.
Steel OCT 24, 12:35 PM
I'm surprised they even cover the gasket price / fluids without proof of a certified mechanic/shop having done the work.

Pretty unfortunate for you.. what a hassle having to fix their mistake(s).


jmbishop OCT 24, 02:23 PM
Like I said, I wouldn't trust their work or the gaskets they've used on the rest of the engine. When the heads are off you should check them out have someone else check them.
Ucycle OCT 24, 02:34 PM
Yeah, I should have just got an used engine for half the price plus they have better warranty (replacement or $ back if they don't have another engine in stock). This turn out to be much bigger hassle then i anticipated. Thanks for all the advice, i'm just pretty drain from all the this. Im hoping when i start the engine, there isn't any other problem beside this issue.
cyrus88 OCT 25, 02:34 AM

quote
Originally posted by Ucycle:


So i probably do either re-torque the bolt or bar's leak, if that fails i will re-do the gasket as last resort.



Why on earth would you do that? It's a fairly simple procedure to replace the head gasket. You will spend more time and money following your plan than you would by just spending a couple of hours replacing the head gasket while the engine is out of the car--unless you're a glutton for punishment . . .

Edited: Oops I didn't read carefully enough to realize it's already installed. Still, I suggest you replace the gasket.

[This message has been edited by cyrus88 (edited 10-25-2017).]