1998 v70 XC exhaust manifold leak and stripped bolt

Post by **Ludermilch** » 02 Jun 2015, 11:26

I just wrapped up doing a head gasket job and went to crank up the car when exhaust was escaping from around one of the exhaust manifold gasket .. In an effort to try to seal it I tightened down the bolts a little bit more and ended up stripping the bolt. I am about to tap a new thread in the head, but why would the exhaust manifold nut bolt down properly to the head?

Post by **erikv11** » 02 Jun 2015, 11:34

Did you strip the bolt (it is actually a stud), or strip the head? The stud could just be replaced.

Not sure what you are asking about "why would ...?"

Post by **Ludermilch** » 02 Jun 2015, 13:41

I stripped the threads in the head.

Cylinder 2 exhaust was leaking bad between the Manifold and head. All others seemed to seal properly. The gasket is there. Does it bind sometimes when bolting it up?

Post by **erikv11** » 02 Jun 2015, 14:01

OK sure, I see.

I think it has to be an issue with the gasket if only one location is leaking, and the leak is between the manifold and the head. The manifold and the head are both super rigid, if there was something binding or in the way then that whole end of the manifold would not sit flush.

Post by **Ludermilch** » 02 Jun 2015, 14:24

Does this mean I have to remove the head again to fix the gasket?

Post by **precopster** » 02 Jun 2015, 15:42

As erik was explaining it is a stud and nut.

I too was guilty of not separating the nut from the stud on my 98 V70R when I refirbished the head last year due to corrosion. I just bolted the studs with nuts complete and didn't strip them.

Post by **erikv11** » 02 Jun 2015, 16:44

I'm suggesting the issue must be with exhaust manifold gasket, not the head gasket. I'm assuming that's where the leak is. So you will likely need to pull the exhaust manifold off to fix that gasket, but the head should be OK right where it is.

You're going to want to pinpoint the source of the exhaust leak before moving ahead.

Post by **Ludermilch** » 02 Jun 2015, 16:58

I know it's cylinder #2. I am currently working to remove the exhaust manifold. It's a task in itself with that turbo attached. Better than tackling the head again.

Post by **erikv11** » 02 Jun 2015, 17:42

Sounds good, I mean pinpoint that it is between the manifold and the head (it pretty much has to be though ...).

If it comes to it you can pull the turbo off from the top, its not too bad really, you do have to undo a couple of fasteners from underneath too. I sort of lay on top of the engine to get the last ones off then turbo then pull it out.

Post by **Ludermilch** » 03 Jun 2015, 17:19

Why in the name of all is there a Square nut holding the exhaust manifold bracket to the lower block?