Failed head gasket why?!?

[Inkncraig]

I recently repaired a 87 FI 4cyl Honda accord. It was towed in, with coolant pouring out of the tailpipe.
The head was sent to machine shop. Pressure checked and machined. All issues corrected.
After repair. It ran great.
Today (7 months, 600 miles) later. It showed up on hook.
Customer said it started spitting smoke out exhaust. It's barreling out
Verified leak again. Headgasket bad
I was real Meticulous putting back together. This is a first for me. I have never had a job like this come back.
I used a felpro gasket and I even checked the block for warpage

What could have happened.

 

[zurud]

bad gasket. Factory honda gasket usually better.

 

[Garage5.9]

x2 on gasket go with oem or comeitc

 

[bazzateer]

Don't know this engine but some require a re-torque of the head bolts after a few hundred miles.

 

[scouting]

Did one myself, and I asked a good import guy and he agreed with the forum advice. The factory gaskets are higher, but apparently no one in the aftermarket comes close. Blame the gasket, but it hurts bad on a comeback like that.

 

[bigdav160]

Better check the cylinders carefully for cracks.
I don't know much about Hondas but I've seen many, at least 10, Civics with bad blocks..

 

[Big-Foot]

I agree with the others on the OEM headgaskets being higher quality.

Might sound goofy, but check out the EGR valve and controls (see if any codes set - although it is so old there may not be)...

With a malfunctioning EGR, many of these engines will go into detonation under a moderate to heavy load. Detonation is one of the leading causes of headgasket failure.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Are the head bolts torque to yield ? Meaning they need replaced after one use.

 

[Gary S]

Honda 4 bangers have had major head gasket problems since the mid 70s. Back in '75 I drove a Honda as a company car. It blew out the head gasket 3 times in 30K miles.

They have improved their gaskets to deal with this problem. Aftermarket gaskets aren't likely to deal with these shortcomings as well as the factory original gaskets.
Like already mentioned, stick with the factory replacement gaskets, and you should have better luck.

 

[Inkncraig]

The head bolts aren't torque to yield. It's just a two step torque process.
22 ft lb them 49 ft lb

 

[bgott]

Is the cooling fan working right? How about the rest of the cooling system? Run a straight edge on the block, you might have some warpage there.

 

[Inkncraig]

I just wanted to everybody know. After the pressure test on the cylinder head, a hole was found between the water jacket and the exhaust port

 

[bazzateer]

^^^ Yep! That'd do it!