Thread: Leaking head bolts

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The problem you may run into trying to take out one stud on either side is the threads. The end of the stud with the threads just may not pull out the hole in the head. The threaded end may be slightly bigger preventing you from taking it out.
Plus you should totally drain the cooling system cause you definitely have a stud in the water jacket. After you get it drained, you still may not have all the coolant out of those holes and if they are still wet from the coolant, you won't get any sealer to stick and stop the leaking.

Originally Posted by sunsetdart

The problem you may run into trying to take out one stud on either side is the threads. The end of the stud with the threads just may not pull out the hole in the head. The threaded end may be slightly bigger preventing you from taking it out.
Plus you should totally drain the cooling system cause you definitely have a stud in the water jacket. After you get it drained, you still may not have all the coolant out of those holes and if they are still wet from the coolant, you won't get any sealer to stick and stop the leaking.

I was more worried about the head gasket becoming unsealed.
I thought that I would syphon the coolant out through the bolt hole once it was removed. Then spray some contact cleaner down the hole to dry it off.
I normally use GM thread sealer. It has never let me down before.