Head leaks only when cold!?

[clayton]

So I have a coolant leak from drivers side head where it meets the block right in the back corner facing the firewall. It slowly drips and runs down the back of the block and down the trans bell. After letting it run until it hits operating temperature, it stops dripping and seals itself up. So for about 10 to 15 minutes it drips then quits. I do have aluminum trick flow heads and I know they can expand and contrast when it comes to heat. What are you guys thoughts? Anything to be worried about? I was concerned about the head gasket but if the gasket was blown wouldn't it leak no matter if engine is warm or not? I wouldn't think this is normal...or is it for aluminum heads to do this when its cold? Its a 95 331 stroker trick flow heads. Also there is no coolant in my oil whatsoever. Oil is clean and so is my coolant. Im confused...dont know if i should be worried about a warped head of failed gasket, or if this is normal behavior for these types of heads in cold weather ( its 34 degrees here in central PA) car has been kept in garage since october.

 

[07GtS197]

Try retorquing the head studs. If that fails it’s either a faulty gasket or something isn’t flat.

 

[cobrajeff96]

Aluminum over iron? Two different metals with two different expansion profiles, I take it.

Could be worth it like GtS said and to verify proper torque is still there.

 

[ttocs]

Inspect and retorque. While your in there with the upper intake off I would try the other side as well to be sure.

 

[clayton]

Aluminum over iron? Two different metals with two different expansion profiles, I take it.

Could be worth it like GtS said and to verify proper torque is still there.

Yep its aluminum over iron block.

 

[96blak54]

So it should be aluminum heads on iron block with mls(multi layer steel) headgaskets and torque to yeild bolts. Someone correct me

 

[clayton]

So I took upper intake off and valve cover, checked the torque on the bolts. They are all set at 70 lbs, nothing was loose. Do I replace the head gasket even though it stops leaking when engine gets warm? Or just roll with it?

 

[RAU03MACH]

Copper spray the gaskets if a new one is needed
Just saying

 

[RedNReady]

So I have a coolant leak from drivers side head where it meets the block right in the back corner facing the firewall. It slowly drips and runs down the back of the block and down the trans bell. After letting it run until it hits operating temperature, it stops dripping and seals itself up. So for about 10 to 15 minutes it drips then quits. I do have aluminum trick flow heads and I know they can expand and contrast when it comes to heat. What are you guys thoughts? Anything to be worried about? I was concerned about the head gasket but if the gasket was blown wouldn't it leak no matter if engine is warm or not? I wouldn't think this is normal...or is it for aluminum heads to do this when its cold? Its a 95 331 stroker trick flow heads. Also there is no coolant in my oil whatsoever. Oil is clean and so is my coolant. Im confused...dont know if i should be worried about a warped head of failed gasket, or if this is normal behavior for these types of heads in cold weather ( its 34 degrees here in central PA) car has been kept in garage since october.

Not normal leak! First, retorque the head. If that doesn't fix it, and you don't presently want to take the head off to replace the gasket, I would use a product from GM. Their coolant suppliment tablets that they used to stop block porosity when they released the Cadillac all aluminum HT4100 series engines. It appears to be the same 'tabs" Ford used in all their new vehicles many years ago, affectionately called "dog turds". I always keep some in my glove box for emergency situations. They do no damage to coolant systems or heater cores but will stop most leaks.

 

[clayton]

Thanks ill look into that

 

[RAU03MACH]

That gm there shit sucks
Everything leaks on a gm

 

[RedNReady]

Thanks ill look into that

It's worked for me and a lot of others through the years. Great product, first used by the Ford factory. I've never found a better leak stopper but won't help leaking water pumps.....

 

[RAU03MACH]

I dont use any of the stop leak products
Just fix it

 

[ttocs]

If I were that deep and everything seemed to check out for torque, I think I would take it off and check that it is still flat and does not need to be decked to make it flat again. If it is flat then I would replace the gasket/hardware and put it back together assuming it was the gasket failing