Potentially? Contaminated head gasket. Replace or send?
 

Relevant facts:

• Fresh head, decked
• Fresh block, decked
• OEM MLS 94-00 headgasket
• ARP head studs

So, I thoroughly cleaned the surface of my short block and head with brake cleaner, installed dowel pins on the block, seated the head gasket, installed ARP head studs. I seated the head down on the block, and finger tightened each of the nuts, but did not torque. The nuts were left finger tight.

I then slathered the cam lobes in some greasy assembly lube so they would not rust (freshly polished from the machine shop). I let the long block sit like this for a week or two before finally getting around to torquing down the studs.

Using four increments, I tightened the nuts to 65 ft/lbs. When I was done, I noticed some assembly lube (characterized by its smell and consistency) oozing out between the head and block - I can only assume that whilst sitting un-torqued, some assembly lube leaked down onto the head gasket and/or block. I realize now I probably should not have let it sit like that...

Should I pull the head and replace the gasket? (Since MLS is single use) My thought is that if assembly lube is on the mating surface of the gasket, it will not provide a proper seal. If I have to go this route I really hope my mating surfaces haven't gotten to futzed up with gasket material...

Or are my concerns wildly blown out of proportion and the lube will just burn off when running?

Your thoughts please....

lube burns and becomes carbon and seals up

Works for me :likecat: thanks!

Did the same thing
 

I just did the same exact thing except I have not worked the head down yet. I noticed the assembly Lube leaking out and I pulled the heads and looked at them. I wiped the head gaskets off of course I couldn't get in between the layers but I cleaned it off with a dry clean rag the best I could. Did you ever have an issue with the head gasket after your contamination?

Mine is actually a 5.4 Ford with a MLS gasket

@cpierr03 See above posts.

I would run it. The head and block don’t bond because of the different expansion rates of the materials. They slide against each other in use.