Can I Reuse Head Bolts Honda Civic?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Can I reuse head bolts Honda Civic?

If a head bolt is rusted it should not be reused

. A head bolt should not be reused if the threads are galled or badly damaged. Chasing damaged head bolt threads with a die will clean up the threads but also remove material (metal) and undermine the head bolt’s ability to torque down and hold to specs.

How many times can you reuse cylinder head bolts?

The average production car uses 4 head bolts per cylinder.

More head bolts can be used than 4

for performance application as well as Hemis, Mopars, and small block Chevy engines (SBCs).

Can head bolts be Retorqued?

Can I reuse head bolts?

Some head bolts can be reused while others can’t

. Many modern engines use Torque-To-Yield (TTY) bolts, which can’t be reused. These bolts achieve clamping force by stretching during the torque process.

Can torque-to-yield head bolts be reused?

Torque-to-yield (TTY) head bolts are designed to stretch when used. Once stretched, they are not as strong as before. Consequently, they cannot provide the same amount of clamping force and

may break or shear off if reused

.

Which bolts Cannot be reused?


Used bolts, nuts, washers, and other types of fasteners

should not be reused on critical joints or applications, no matter their condition. If joints have been designed for loosening and tightening, that action is permitted.

Can you reuse bolts that have been torqued?

In general, reusing nuts, bolts, washers and other mechanical fasteners is

not a good idea

. If you have any doubts about the condition of the fastener in question, discard it in favor of new fasteners. That choice will always result in a stronger, more durable joint.

Do I need new head bolts when replacing head gasket?

A poorly installed gasket leaks and can damage other engine components. All in all,

it’s often best to install new head bolts when you work on your cylinder head or head gasket, unless you can be absolutely sure the age and condition of your current ones

. It will save you headaches and cash in the future.

Are cat head bolts reusable?


Bolts with any signs of damage, no matter how slight, should never be reused

. Not only will the bolts eventually fail, but when they do, there is the potential for them to cause damage to your cylinder head. This results in a much more expensive repair than simply replacing the bolts in the first place.

Do head bolts need washers?


Yes, you need washers under the heads of the head bolts

. Without the washers, the bolt’s head will cut into the aluminum causing uneven loading of the bolt torque.

What happens if you dont torque head bolts?

Another consequence of failing to torque the head bolts properly can be

head warpage

. Uneven loading created by unevenly tightened head bolts can distort the head. Over a period of time, this may cause the head to take a permanent set.

What happens if you over torque a head bolt?

Can I tighten head bolts to stop leak?

re-torquing the head

First drain the water below the level of the head surface to prevent leaks. Unscrew and use grease on the threads, not oil.

Tighten one one at a time to 60 lbs, then go back and do a final torque to 70 lbft

.

Do you have to replace torque to yield bolts?

Why do you have to replace torque to yield bolts?


If the bolt is over-torqued and stretched beyond its limit, this exceeds its yield strength which means it can no longer maintain the needed clamp load

and must be replaced. One way to overcome the huge variable of friction when tightening fasteners like head bolts is to use a technique called torque angle.

Can a stretch bolt be reused?

However, because the tightening procedure does permanently stretch the bolt,

there is some risk of breakage if the bolt is reused

. And since there is no way to tell how many times a bolt has been reused, it doesn’t make any sense to reused TTY bolts – the risk far outweighs the replacement cost of used bolts.

Is it bad to reuse screws?

Repurposing Reused Screws


In critical applications, fasteners should never be re-used

. The criticality of the application is up to the user, but if no one can be sure what forces were applied to the fastener, new fasteners should be used in re-assembly.

Is it OK to reuse screws?

Recycling and reusing items is something we all strive to do but can you reuse a screw?

Typically you can if the screw has never exceeded its yield point

. The yield point is the point where the screw will not return to its original length or shape when the load is removed from it.

Can you galvanized A490 bolts?

A490 covers heavy hex structural bolts (tensile strength of 150 to 173 ksi) and currently,

ASTM Standards do not allow hot-dip galvanizing of A490 bolts for corrosion protection

. Citing a concern of hydrogen embrittlement, A490 only allows a type of zinc/aluminum coating to be used on high-strength bolts.

Can A490 bolts be reused?

Snugged Bolt Reuse

Snugged F3125 Grade A490 bolts and galvanized Grade A325 bolts

can only be considered for reuse if snugged by hand or very lightly snugged with an impact wrench

.

Do bolts weaken over time?

Fatigue failure happens when the bolts have not been tightened properly, or have loosened up during its service life.

If enough force is acting on the loosened joint during use of the product, bending stresses can weaken the fastener, eventually causing it to fail

.

Can you replace head bolts one at a time?


Yes, you can replace one stud at a time without changing the gaskets

. Its been done many many times before.

Can you over tighten a cylinder head?

When you overtorque above 15% of recommended which in this case would be about 95 ft/lbs you basically turn the fastener into a rubber band.

Some of the fasteners will stretch and you will have uneven torque

. Add heat and pressure and head gasket blows and the head can even warp.

Can a head gasket be reused?


You can re-use the Titan or Pro Copper style head gaskets several times, only if the head gaskets are cleaned carefully

. If a buildup of sealant occurs, combustion pressure will not be contained as the Head/Gasket/Block will become separated by a layer of sealant which cannot withstand combustion pressure and heat.

Should you use Loctite on head bolts?


NO! You can use blue locktite in alot of places, but your headbolts are not one of them

. Headbolts need to be brought up to torque specs in stages, and in a specific order (see a motor manual), and then re-torqued after the engine has been run for awhile to make sure they are all at the proper torque value.

Why are ARP bolts so expensive?

ARP stuff is typically more expensive than other brands, but again, that’s because

they use more expensive materials, and the manufacturing process, from heat treating to machining, is more involved

.

What is the purpose of a stretch bolt?

Stretch bolts are designed

so that they can be elongated beyond their elastic limit into the plastic region without problems

. When a specific tightening torque has been reached, the bolts are turned further through a defined angle, which pre-loads them into the plastic region.

Do you put silicone on head gasket?

Since most engines run coolant and oil through the head gaskets we’ll discuss head gasket sealants. Most importantly, you don’t need very much; second,

don’t use silicone

.. that about covers it. People get into trouble with leaking head gaskets when they use too much sealant, especially too much silicone.

Can you use stock head bolts on aluminum heads?

Do head gaskets need sealant?

Remember to use a non-metallic scraper on aluminum heads! If you’re installing one of those old school embossed steel gaskets, you need a sealer to cold seal the engine. But

most modern gaskets do not need to be coated with any sealers

. And if you’re installing a coated gasket, avoid any chemical seals.

Can you overtorque?

Everyone who has ever worked with fasteners has accidentally messed one up at some point. One of the most damaging ways to do that is by over-tightening, or over torquing the fastener. This can result in stripping screws, snapping screw heads and damaging pre-tapped threading.

How do you Retorque cylinder head bolts?

How do you torque head bolts without a torque wrench?

Should you tighten the nut or the bolt?

There is no simple answer to this as in some instances,

it is perfectly acceptable to tighten the bolt head while holding the nut in place

. In other situations, it’s acceptable to tighten the nut. It all depends on the application and the condition of the product or material being worked with.

Can you replace head bolts one at a time?


Yes, you can replace one stud at a time without changing the gaskets

. Its been done many many times before.

Do head bolts need washers?


Yes, you need washers under the heads of the head bolts

. Without the washers, the bolt’s head will cut into the aluminum causing uneven loading of the bolt torque.

Charlene Dyck
Author
Charlene Dyck
Charlene is a software developer and technology expert with a degree in computer science. She has worked for major tech companies and has a keen understanding of how computers and electronics work. Sarah is also an advocate for digital privacy and security.