Vortec intake gaskets leaking coolant?

crusader8

Running Ty Club
So when we built our motor several years ago we had an issue seating the vortec intake gaskets on the heads. Had to do it twice due to coolent in the oil. Fast forward a few years, The motor went and we are there again. Anyone have an tips on getting this right? The heads and intake were modi'd by RPM. Using felpro 1203's
 

MikeRenz

not stock
Re: Vortec intake gaskets leaking coolent?

Re: Vortec intake gaskets leaking coolent?

i chose the 1268 over the 1203 becuase it's thicker and has more meat around the coolant ports. But i'm not sure how RPM mod's their intakes, so they might have made them specifically to work with the 1203.
 

crusader8

Running Ty Club
Re: Vortec intake gaskets leaking coolent?

Re: Vortec intake gaskets leaking coolent?

What are the odds, we have 1268's too. Trying to get this thing together for the NASTE meet....
 

wildphil

I Love My Ty's
Re: Vortec intake gaskets leaking coolent?

Re: Vortec intake gaskets leaking coolent?

But the port sizes are not the same. Can the 1268 be trimmed to fit>
 

MikeRenz

not stock
Re: Vortec intake gaskets leaking coolent?

Re: Vortec intake gaskets leaking coolent?

1268 fits just fine. no trimming required.
 

crusader8

Running Ty Club
Re: Vortec intake gaskets leaking coolent?

Re: Vortec intake gaskets leaking coolent?

We have been using RTV around the ports and on the bolt threads. Is this the norm or are there other better options. Last time we let the RTV sit for 40 hours before we fired the motor and still leaking. I will post pics when I get home.
 

MikeRenz

not stock
Re: Vortec intake gaskets leaking coolent?

Re: Vortec intake gaskets leaking coolent?

did you plug the unused holes in the heads? Also, when drilling the heads for our bolt pattern you drill into the water jacket in one spot.

Someone had a corner leak for a while, i forget who. But he chased it for a while and now i can't remember what his solution was either. some help, i know :lol:
 

crusader8

Running Ty Club
Re: Vortec intake gaskets leaking coolent?

Re: Vortec intake gaskets leaking coolent?

We pulled the plugs and put some rtv on them to make sure that wasnt the issue. Tomorrow when I get back to NJ I'm gonna try everything in the book to make this work. I think im gonna try the 1268's and extra RTV on the bolts...but it looks like thats not the issue. I think it just needs a thicker gasket and that the 1268's will work
 
Re: Vortec intake gaskets leaking coolent?

Re: Vortec intake gaskets leaking coolent?

did you plug the unused holes in the heads? Also, when drilling the heads for our bolt pattern you drill into the water jacket in one spot.

Someone had a corner leak for a while, i forget who. But he chased it for a while and now i can't remember what his solution was either. some help, i know :lol:


I want to say it was Ed H. I'm probably wrong, though.
 

crusader8

Running Ty Club
Re: Vortec intake gaskets leaking coolent?

Re: Vortec intake gaskets leaking coolent?

Since I happen to be in a BMW dealership right now, I borrowed some "right stuff" from a tech. So well shall try again tomorrow...and if not, again on sunday!

EDIT: I'm gonna run outta gaskets
 

Don W.

Stab it and steer it
Re: Vortec intake gaskets leaking coolent?

Re: Vortec intake gaskets leaking coolent?

The problem IMHO is that since the intake and the heads were not designed to be together there are three issues. 1) seal the original Vortec bolt holes as shown. Red RTV and an allen screw work just fine. 2) Use red RTV on each manifold bolt. It's either going into water or oil. 3) (The biggie IMO) Red RTV around the four water passages on the heads AND around the four matching surfaces on the manifold. The reason here is there are a couple of spots where the manifold and the water passage are close to not matching making it easy for a leak to occur.

My setup has been apart and back together a few times and no leaks using the above procedure.

Just my :2cents: on the topic...
 

crusader8

Running Ty Club
Re: Vortec intake gaskets leaking coolent?

Re: Vortec intake gaskets leaking coolent?

The problem IMHO is that since the intake and the heads were not designed to be together there are three issues. 1) seal the original Vortec bolt holes as shown. Red RTV and an allen screw work just fine. 2) Use red RTV on each manifold bolt. It's either going into water or oil. 3) (The biggie IMO) Red RTV around the four water passages on the heads AND around the four matching surfaces on the manifold. The reason here is there are a couple of spots where the manifold and the water passage are close to not matching making it easy for a leak to occur.

My setup has been apart and back together a few times and no leaks using the above procedure.

Just my :2cents: on the topic...

http://www.syty.net/forums/showthread.php?t=79129&highlight=rtv+intake

Don't think I didnt read that in this thread already. Issue is, that didnt work.
 

MoJo

New member
Re: Vortec intake gaskets leaking coolent?

Re: Vortec intake gaskets leaking coolent?

Never use aerobic (RTV) sealant on anything unless you want leaks and a general mess. If RTV manages to get into the oil system you can blow an engine with a blocked oil pump pick up screen. GM Powertrain Engineers recommends and my engine builder uses anaerobic sealants on everything except exhaust manifold bolts, intake manifold bolts and core hole plugs.

Anaerobic sealants:
GM 12346004 thread sealant - tube - Teflon
oil pump inlet pipe
oil gallery plugs
coolant drain plugs in side of block
oil pressure sender - fitting to block
oil pressure sender to fitting
coolant temperature sensor - gauge
coolant temperature sensor - ECM
head bolts
oil dipstick tube to block
water pump bolts
valve cover bolts .
GM 88861417 - tube
anaerobic gasket adhesive / sealer

Thread locker / sealant (medium strength) tube
GM 12345382
block core hole plugs
intake manifold bolts
GM 12345493 - high temperature - thread locker / sealant tube
exhaust manifold bolts

IMO----but I suppose everyone has their favorites. Locttite may have equivalents to each of these except GM 88861417 gasket sealer / adhesive which was released in 2005 .
 
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Don W.

Stab it and steer it
Re: Vortec intake gaskets leaking coolent?

Re: Vortec intake gaskets leaking coolent?

Well OK. All I know is I did what I did on my intake and it worked. More than once. I'd have to check the book for the exact wording but "black" sealant (I'd suspect it has a GM #) is called for between the manifold and the block. Never had an issue there either.

BTW there is a tightening sequence and torque for the intake. Over tightening can be an issue sometimes.

Oh well, just trying to help what little I can. :lol:
 

ItsMyTy

Life is beter at 25 PSI
Re: Vortec intake gaskets leaking coolent?

Re: Vortec intake gaskets leaking coolent?

Never had a problem (3-4 times) on my ty w/vortecs and 1203s. A bit of RTV around the coolant ports on intake + head before setting the gasket down. RTV on the intake bolts every time. Torqued to factory spec.

The best RTV to use on the intake is GM# 88861417 grey RTV. I use this stuff all the time and it's the best stuff i've seen to date from GM. It works in near 0 gap all the way to filling voids such as the ends of intake manifolds. It will seal oil, coolant, axle lube, transfer cases, pretty much anything. If your surfaces are clean when applied, it will stay sealed for the life of the truck. It's the same sealer GM uses to seal crankcase halves, oil pans, and front covers on production engines such as 2.4l ecotec and 3.6l HFV6. If you're sealing something big it's also available in a half caulking tube.

One thing I have not seen mentioned, but is possible. The intake may have been milled more than others for whatever reason. This will cause the intake to be spaced a bit from the head, and will lower clamp load on the gasket. Something you may look into since you're having so many problems getting it to seal.
 
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MoJo

New member
Re: Vortec intake gaskets leaking coolent?

Re: Vortec intake gaskets leaking coolent?

My favorite has always been and still is Permatex High-Tack and a gasket.

GM 88861417 in a tube is the same as old number GM 12378521 that came in a cartridge. My engine builder used GM 12378521 on my engine because he has a large supply of the stuff he had too use up. It is in a cartridge style container and requires a dispenser. He said it is a hylomar adheasive / sealant and seems to be the best he has used so far. My two year old engine has not leaked a drop of coolant or oil.
 

crusader8

Running Ty Club
Re: Vortec intake gaskets leaking coolent?

Re: Vortec intake gaskets leaking coolent?

Well, I didnt make it to the naste meet with the truck. in the process now of making block off plates for each coolent passage so we can do a pressure test and see whats going on without the intake manifold in the way
 
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