10Mm Head Bolts

[Philr32]

Hi all, the 3 PITA 10mm head bolts, are they needed? I'm asking because when I put my head back on my RB25 I would prefer to not put these back in as they are a pain. Obviously if they serve a useful purpose I'll make the effort to put them back in. Also do they need to be torqued?

[Ben C34]

I left out the one under the inlet manifold no worries.

Obviously they are there for a reason, so you are kind of taking a chance, but it's a chance I'm willing to take!

[89CAL]

If you are putting a new gasket it, I would strongly suggest putting these bolts in. They are there to prevent the outer coolant ports from leaking out the head gasket.

Better off to do up 3 'Pain in the ass' bolts now then have your headgasket leak and have to pull all the head bolts back out to replace it

I'm not saying it will leak, but on a new head gasket I wouldnt take the chance

BTW: They are 6mm bolts not 10mm bolts

Edited February 3, 2014 by 89CAL

[Ben C34]

I don't get what you are saying.

If there was a leak due to the bolts not being there, I could just put the bolts in and that would close up the gap and fix the leak. The would be no need to replace the head gasket as it wouldn't be "blown".

Any way, like I said I'm willing to take that risk.

[89CAL]

Yeah cause it will seal real good with slippery coolant between it....

If yours is not a newly assembled engine then its not an issue. As the op is putting a head back on the block, im assuming he is using a new headgasket. It is more important on a new headgasket as far as im concerned. The bolts arent that hard to get if you are putting a bare head on but if youve left all the manis etc on its a bit harder

Look at the design of the headgasket and where the small bolts are. Nissan wouldnt put them there if they werent needed........

[Ben C34]

Well I have done it with a new gasket and left out the bolt under the inlet manifold, with no leaks.

of course nissan put it there for a reason, to ensure no leaks, so not using them means there is a chance it won't seal correctly.

I still don't understand why you think that if it leaked some coolant becsuse the bolt wasn't there why putting the bolt back in wouldn't seal it up? cooant leaking past the gaskrt won't destroy the gasket.

Anyway, it's up to the op of he wants to risk it.

You think it won't work without the bolts, I know it does work without the bolt under the inlet manifold at the front, with a new gasket and no leaks.

[89CAL]

I never said 'it will leak'

go back and look. It was more of a 'for the sake of 3 bolts you will be disappointed if it leaks'

I'm not sure what HG OP is going to run, but if its an MLS then it wont re-seal if the coolant leaks, and I wouldnt fully trust a standard HG to re-seal after having coolant between it.

I was never saying it would definently, 100% happen, but I honestly dont think it is that much effort. If you could get them out to pull the head off, you can put them back in.

[533 RYC]

^ agreed. Put them back in, no problems, peace of mind.