- Engines:
- All Gas
All bolts that are removed during normal maintenance should be inspected for corrosion, pitting, or other defects. If the bolt is reusable, wipe the bolt with a clean dry rag or clean the bolt with a wire brush. Then place the bolt in a container of clean engine oil. Do not clean the bolt with any type of solvent or tap water. These cleaning agents usually contain small amounts of chlorine. Chlorine will aggressively attack the highly stressed underhead area of the bolt. This can cause a chlorine stress corrosion fracture, which can lead to separation of the bolt head from the bolt.
Before reassembly, check the condition of the threads in the bolt hole. Use a thread chaser to remove any deposits from these threads. This will prevent the bolt from seizing in the future. Remove the bolt from the container of oil. Inspect the bolt for damage. If no damage is present, the bolt can be reinstalled. Cylinder head bolts must be coated with Molycoat grease before the bolts are reinstalled. Use the procedures that are recommended for torquing in order to install the bolts. The same procedure can be used on all engine bolts unless additional lubrication requirements are called for in the service manual.