Head bolts - reusing or replacing?

Great thread.
OP, Seth, measured, per the workshop manual procedure, and deduced the head bolts are good to re-use.
My two-cent comment is to make sure the head and bolts threads are dry/ clean of oil before reinstalling.

FWIW, so many bolts are torque to yield that I would have replaced, as the cost appears to be near $35.

Good luck OP.
If there is a failure in "x" miles, please let us all know.

 

Repair Manual recommends the head bolts be soaked with motor oil when installing.

You do want to ensure the hole and its threads are clear.

 

With all the problems just open deck design is having if I was to take this on might as well just use new bolts but I don't take this on so I don't worry about any of that personally on some of the beams engines like the 3S GTE they're called out to just be replaced I've seen people reuse them oh well.

 

Gasket Masters never seem to pay any attention to the head bolts they pull out, nor check them. Seems like they always just reuse.

Personally (if I was ever in this situation), I’d replace them, just because I’m a worry wart.

 

Got a question for you... I was watching a mechanic on Tik Tok opening the covers on an enormous jet engine on a commercial airliner and after undoing loads of latches and flaps the main cowlings appeared to be motorized and raised up at the push of a button. So I'm wondering if the biggest jet engines typically have dedicated motors to lift those big covers, or just some gears that the mechanic attaches an auxiliary motor too?

 

Posting a 1 year 1 month update after reusing the head bolts. 50k miles and no coolant leaks yet

 

I just bought new bolts for my headgasket repair. They were inexpensive and if I can avoid taking the engine apart, I'll do what it takes. haha.

 

I've not had any trouble re using tq to yield fasteners . Not recommended . But. Now they inexpensive enough for all.

 

Usually mechanics use a set of gaskets and head bolts when replacing head gasket. My only experience was Nissan Altima 2.5L 2002 head gasket. It was replaced with Felpro sets. They hold up really well from 66k miles until 130k miles when I sold it. More than 6years and runs perfectly and I won't worry of using aftermarket head bolts if Toyota bolts are too expensive.
Felpro gasket is also has ticker lips

 

I reused the head bolts, and used fel-pro head gasket. Will update in 10k miles

 

@Mendel Leisk has info on how to measure/test existing bolts. Also becuase of Gen3 headgasket problems Drew over at https://www.instagram.com/skimmilkhybrid/ is using super expensive headgasket bolts that they use in racecars to see if that will help do a better job at holding things together.

 

Yes but step one is to access the bolts. It's likely all good. Anyway, attached.

(looking at attached, overall length is indicated, guess that's "a", but what the heck are "b" and "c"? Maybe on the next page?

Meh, later, grandson coming over to change oil on his '07 civic.

 

ok this one better

(also, last link in my signature is the FULL engine section)

(on a phone turn it landscape to see signatures)

 

Aren't they only like $40 a set now or something? And the costly ARP equals are like 14 bux a pop or such.

 

The race car ones that Drew uses to maybe ensure no more future problems are $300 a set.