I'm replacing the HGs on my '90 Legacy LS wagon (175K miles), EJ22 engine. Do I have to install new head bolts & washers on reassembly?

 

I had a conversation with an individual at a parts store about HG replacement & head bolt tightening sequence. He commented that it sounded like the bolts were "torque-to-yield" and Subaru recommended their replacement when installing a new HG.

 

Is this true? I'd rather not spend the $$ if I don't have to.

 

Thanks!

also like to hear about a related topic - to retorque the heads bolts or not?

Any engine that uses torque-to-yield bolts should not be retorqued and the bolts should not be reused. The clamping force will not be right.

 

These bolts are torque once, throw away.

how can you find out if they are torque to yield or not? i've called the dealer about EA82 and ER27 motors and they had no idea.

You will have no problems re-using the bolts and washers. I have done it on at least 60 Subaru engines without any problems.

shawn, did you retorque when you reused the bolts or not?

Not retorqued, just torque them the one time instead of the 6 step procedure.

Not retorqued, just torque them the one time instead of the 6 step procedure.

 

Thanks for the advice, however I'm somewhat confused - this is my first time attacking HG replacement on a Subaru.

 

The FSM for the '90 Legacy doesn't mention replacement of the head bolts with new ones, and offers the following steps. The use of a new head gasket is specifically addressed, but the step for the bolts is just "tighten cylinder head bolts." Implicitly, then, the following procedure is for the used bolts(?).

 

The torque procedure calls for a 2-step tightening (22 ft-lbs, then 51 ft-lbs), followed by a 2-step, 180 degree/step, backing off for all bolts. Then, it says to tighten #'s 1 & 2 (25 ft-lbs), followed by 3-6 at a lower level (11 ft-lb). The last 2 steps are 2 consecutive tightenings of 80-90 degrees in numerical sequence.

 

From your experience/suggestion, if I can reuse the bolts, which steps do I skip? How high do I torque them to?

 

Thanks!

<<From your experience/suggestion, if I can reuse the bolts, which steps do I skip? How high do I torque them to?>>

 

 

re-use the headbolts. just clean them up and dip them in motor oil before you thread them in.

ALWAYS use the FSM procedures on torqueing them. Depending on what engine your building you may need to tighten, step off, retighten. This is the only correct way to do it. No need to re-tourque them once they are on the engine for some miles like some people think.