27-12-2018, 06:17 PM
Personally I'd carefully clean the mating faces, use a new gasket with grease on both sides, torque down the head gradually and carefully to 20lbft. following correct sequence. Assuming the head is not so eroded of course that a seal is impossible...
I don't know how to guarantee there's no water in the sump but - personally - I'd see if any comes out of the drain plug and once that (if any) has gone I'd give her a try. I have in the past driven 1000 miles home with a leaking head gasket, though the bearing shells had clearly suffered when I subsequently stripped down.
On first start up I usually start the engine then fill the radiator as soon as she's running. Avoids a potential repetition of this but with no start.
I don't know how to guarantee there's no water in the sump but - personally - I'd see if any comes out of the drain plug and once that (if any) has gone I'd give her a try. I have in the past driven 1000 miles home with a leaking head gasket, though the bearing shells had clearly suffered when I subsequently stripped down.
On first start up I usually start the engine then fill the radiator as soon as she's running. Avoids a potential repetition of this but with no start.