 03 250HPDI Head Cover Seeping
Andy,
FYI, my engine runs great since you helped with the major fuel system maintenance a couple of months ago. Thanks.
My impression since the service advisory replacement of my oil pump is that the engine is now using a little more oil than before. The engine also didn't start as well the last time I used it as it had in the past (I averaged about 60 to 1, fuel to oil, on offshore trips in the past). I pulled the spark plugs, noted significant carbon deposits with only about 20 hours on them, so I soaked them in Seafoam, picked out what carbon I could with a toothpick and reinstalled them. I also adjusted the oil linkage a half turn leaner. Will continue to monitor oil usage and spark plug condition.
While working with the spark plugs, I noticed significant salty deposits on the head cover gasket on the port side...significantly more than the starboard side. I had noticed them before but had read that some seepage is to be expected so thought nothing of it. I've never seen any water leakage, just the salt deposits. The difference between the 2 sides was very noticeable now, so I re-torqued the head cover bolts on both head covers, finding several significantly below spec on the port side, especially in the area where the salt deposits were most noticeable (upper end of the head cover). There were fewer below spec torqued bolts on the starboard side and as I mentioned, less salt deposits on this side. I expect the under-torqued bolts may have been like this since the engine was new. Any words of wisdom you might have about potential damage done while these bolts were under-torqued and further work I should do would be much appreciated.
Thanks.
Bill | 
