i had just replaced the head gasket water pump and timing belt. Two weeks ago, had the head shaved and got a valve job. The only thing replaced on the valve job were the valve guides. Put everything back together ran great for two weeks and i was driving and all the sudden stopped at a stop sign and the white smoke. When we took the head off the gasket was blown on the holes where the coolant goes through. The first time i replaced it, it blew right by the cylinder. This time it blew on every hole where the coolant flows through. Is that a bad gasket or it wasn't properly torqued???

badpenny

My guess is that it wasn't properly torqued, there is a sequence to things and depending on which car/truck you have that may be it. Then again, maybe the dowel guides weren't installed into the head and block, so misalignment is the issue.

cjcdallas

I agree it head sounds like it was not torqued properly. Did you happen to check the block to see if it was flat as well? Go to the library and check out a Chilton's Repair guide. It has all the specs in there for all of that....

DANK1981

I have the chilton manaul for my car. I think it wasn't torqued right. there was one bolt that was easy to take out and the rest were tight. So i made sure the guy who did it this time torqued it the right way.