Head gasket replacement.

[mach1soldier]

Anything special to know about replacing the head gasket? Car is blowing smoke pretty bad but also I can see oil barely leaking out of the drivers rear of head. It isn't much at idle but guessing with a load it will increase quite a bit.

The underside of the car is coated with oil and loses 4-5 quarts every 500 miles. The valve cover gasket is good but is there a seal around the crank or something that could leak? I don't think the pan is leaking.

[Nickschierhoff]

I've been having the same problem and just did the crankshaft seal and oil pump seal, also had to do the oil pan seal only because it had to be taken off to do the oil pump seal. I'm thinkin on mine it was coming out of that oil pump seal but I'll know tomorrow when I test it. It would leak and sling the oil all over the place when it got on the pulleys. May be something to look into for your leak too. I'll keep ya posted whether or not it fixed it.

[Team Lightning]

Camshaft seal is bad to leak on these cars after they have 100K miles on them. Might want to check above the crank and look at the camshaft seal.

[mach1soldier]

Camshaft seal is bad to leak on these cars after they have 100K miles on them. Might want to check above the crank and look at the camshaft seal.

Thanks. Ill just replace it while I do the head gasket. Any special procedure?

[Nickschierhoff]

It appears my camshaft seal was the source of the leak. It actually walked itself out most of the way. May wanna just try that first cause it's pretty simple, unless you know for sure the heads leaking too.

[dalebwilson]

Just FYI. There is no stop for the cam shaft seal when pressing it in. If not careful, it will go all the way through the bore.

[mach1soldier]

How do you know how far to go? is there a special tool or a measurement?

[dalebwilson]

Just tap it in with a large socket until flush with the head and then go another 1/8" or so. I think Haynes states to observe where the current seal is positioned and duplicate that.

[mach1soldier]

Thanks that is what I needed to know.

When doing the head gasket, is it a good idea to get a valve job and seals done or do they tend to last quite a while on these cars?

[sc72]

Always a good idea to do the valves and seals, the head is off so get her done.

[Fordverde]

Get a Victor-Reinz head gasket, the best!! and Permatex Cooper spray!

[Fordverde]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/FORD-MAZDA-1-3-88-93-Festiva-Engine-Kit-/271128881732?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3f208a6a44&vxp=mtr