The center bolts are prone to damange I think esp the one marked 1 & 2 in the opening sequence. I replaced headgasket 2 months back.

Symptoms were ,
1. Oil swaeating from headgasket where bolt 2 is located.
2. Coolant loss, roughly 2/3 reservoir every tank full of gas.
3. Oil+water, brown stuff on Dip Stick. Never saw it on Oil cap and never noticed it in used oil. I actually used to think that it is because condensation caused by short distance drives.

Finding were

1. The head gakset was intact and in good shape, I still have it as a trophy , I did damage it when I removed it as it was stuck at 2-3 places near the read of engine.


2. Bolt 1 threads were rusted, not all of them but middle 9-10 threads, may be due to combination of age, stress and coolant seeping there but it is hard see if you see that gasket was in fine shape at the location . I cleaned the bolt hole many times and replaced it.

I guess it was the cause of all of my troubles.


Regards,
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DD-1990 240 DL SW M47II FI 3.1 234 K miles