# Light dawns on leaky head **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** caravan, dodge\ **Created:** [December 12, 2010, 9:52pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/light-dawns-on-leaky-head/58620 "2010-12-12T21:52:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![geo\_mac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9fc29f/32.png) [@geo\_mac](https://community.cartalk.com/u/geo_mac)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2010, 9:52pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/light-dawns-on-leaky-head/58620/1 "2010-12-12T21:52:33Z")
I have a 1994 caravan, 2.5/5 speed 225000 miles. The car should be ‘put to sleep’ but it keeps running … sort of … The head was replaced @ 145000; & 6 mo. ago it started leaking (compression in the cooling& over heating). I just now figured out the head bolts are only torqued to 45ft# instead of 65+1/4 turn. My ? is should I dare to turn the bolts another 1/4 turn? and will it help thanks ---
**Author:** ![jesmed1](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/jesmed1/32/2097_2.png) [@jesmed1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jesmed1)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2010, 9:58pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/light-dawns-on-leaky-head/58620/2 "2010-12-12T21:58:42Z")
First of all, where did you get 65 “plus a quarter turn?” I think you’re confusing head bolts with spark plugs. Head bolts have a specified torque, period. Not “plus a quarter turn.” Next, how did you determine that your head bolts were torqued to 45 (foot-pounds, I assume)? Did you take the valve cover off and check the torque of the head bolts with a calibrated torque wrench? ---
**Author:** ![geo\_mac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9fc29f/32.png) [@geo\_mac](https://community.cartalk.com/u/geo_mac)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2010, 10:19pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/light-dawns-on-leaky-head/58620/3 "2010-12-12T22:19:18Z")
… from the Repair Book, oddly enough,… engine cold/ clockwise/ 1: to 45 ft lbs 2: 65 3: again 65 4:1/4 turn … yes, when a torque wrench is applied to the head bolts @ 45ft lbs the bolt turns … following the steps and sequence, the bolts have turned in an 1/8th of a turn … ---
**Author:** ![waterboy](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/waterboy/32/764_2.png) [@waterboy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/waterboy)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2010, 10:23pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/light-dawns-on-leaky-head/58620/4 "2010-12-12T22:23:05Z")
Someone more knowledgeable can hopefully respond, but some bolts are one time use only. If they reused the old bolts you may be courting disaster, ie a broken head bolt by messing with them. Don’t fix it if it ain’t broke. Sounds like time for a redo. ---
**Author:** ![oldschool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e19adc/32.png) [@oldschool](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldschool)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2010, 10:25pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/light-dawns-on-leaky-head/58620/5 "2010-12-12T22:25:38Z")
Readers: please do not torque your spark plugs to 65 ftlbs, much less 65 ftlbs and a quarter turn. This will result in the very least your plugs being over torqued X3. ---
**Author:** ![geo\_mac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9fc29f/32.png) [@geo\_mac](https://community.cartalk.com/u/geo_mac)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2010, 11:03pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/light-dawns-on-leaky-head/58620/6 "2010-12-12T23:03:17Z")
Head bolts were new with new factory head, car is far beyond broke and near buried, but still runs … ---
**Author:** ![cigroller](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c68b51/32.png) [@cigroller](https://community.cartalk.com/u/cigroller)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2010, 11:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/light-dawns-on-leaky-head/58620/7 "2010-12-12T23:44:32Z")
Giving a specific torque specs and then x fraction of a turn is not uncommon. I’m wondering how the OP knows that they were torqued to 45. If the head is already leaking then the worst that happens by retorque is that it doesn’t work and/or you break one or two off. Get a torque wrench on then & go to 65 then add the 1/4 turn. But this all sounds wacky to me. ---
**Author:** ![jesmed1](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/jesmed1/32/2097_2.png) [@jesmed1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jesmed1)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2010, 12:13am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/light-dawns-on-leaky-head/58620/8 "2010-12-13T00:13:59Z")
I stand corrected about the “plus 1/4 turn” torque spec. Never heard of such a thing for head bolts, but I’m learning 😉 ---
**Author:** ![waterboy](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/waterboy/32/764_2.png) [@waterboy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/waterboy)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2010, 12:32am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/light-dawns-on-leaky-head/58620/9 "2010-12-13T00:32:09Z")
Sure you could try, but chances are the head gasket is shot and no amount of tightening will repair that.