gravitate Posted May 19, 2016 Share Posted May 19, 2016 So I was doing new head gaskets on my 96 Legacy Outback with a EJ22. I wasn't paying enough attention and instead of following the proper final 2 torquing steps which is 90 degrees on all bolts then an additional 90 degrees I did 180 followed by another 180. I loosened it another 180 after I realized what I did. I figure I will have to redo the head gasket but what do you think? They are supposedly not TTY bolts but should I replace the bolts too? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MR_Loyale Posted May 19, 2016 Share Posted May 19, 2016 You put a lot of time on just getting to the head gaskets. In my opinion you should take it off, get new bolts, new gasket and begin again and do it right. Do you want to get it all together and 3 months later have the same problem? That is how I look at it. Others may think differently. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Numbchux Posted May 19, 2016 Share Posted May 19, 2016 No need to replace the bolts unless coolant got to them and they rusted. Agreed that you should replace the gaskets 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WoodsWagon Posted May 19, 2016 Share Posted May 19, 2016 I'd replace the bolts too. An extra 1/2 turn is a lot of torque above the 90ish ft lbs they normally end up torqued at. They aren't TTY under the normal torque spec but crank them that much further and they probably yielded. Lucky you didn't pull the threads out of the block! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nipper Posted May 20, 2016 Share Posted May 20, 2016 The bolts are fine. And as long as you didnt over torque (total torque) the bolts the threads in the block will be fine. You will need new HGs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idosubaru Posted May 20, 2016 Share Posted May 20, 2016 Smoker! 180 degrees is hard to imagine nothing stripped? Wow. Best to replace. I have multiple cars so I'm not reliant on one but in some cases I'd be tempted to run it and see what happens just because those EJ22 are so easy to replace anyway. It's hardly any extra work to replace now or later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThosL Posted May 20, 2016 Share Posted May 20, 2016 Question--does re-torquing the heads ever address mechanical issues like leaks in the head gaskets? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nipper Posted May 20, 2016 Share Posted May 20, 2016 Question--does re-torquing the heads ever address mechanical issues like leaks in the head gaskets? No. On modern HGs once a path is made for leakage it will just make it worse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gravitate Posted May 20, 2016 Author Share Posted May 20, 2016 I ended up just replacing the gasket and I remembered I had a old engine so I took the bolts off that. Yeah I'm surprised I didn't strip the block but it seams to be just fine. Stupid late night mistake. I think I'm going to do a test on the old block and see how much you can over torque them before they break or strip. I just need to get a torque wrench that will show that. I also plan on re torquing some bolts a bunch of times to see if they ever break or lose there clamping strength, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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