Is there a "sound" to broken head studs?

[Hotwatermusic]

All this reading about broken head studs, and how "lots of people driving around could have them and never know" has me slightly concerned. I am about to do an oil change and would love to take the valve covers off to have a peak, but don't have new gaskets to put on when the covers go back on. So aside from taking off the valve covers, is there any way to tell your head studs are broken? An odd sound perhaps? I've noticed a weird, soft, secondary "puff puff" sound in my car's exhaust note that has me scratching my head--and of course my first thought is broken HS's. Also, when I do finally take the valve covers off, if the studs are broken am to I understand there will simply be parts_sitting_in the covers?

[Gogar]

Live a little and buy a valve cover gasket kit.

Search 'broken head stud' and you'll find a picture. If you can't find a pic, search "what is this" in the thread title. You'll find a picture of a broken head stud, and a picture of the little power window spring retainer that always falls out of power window doors.


Yes, lots of times you'll find the broken end lying in there when you open it up. They are more often on the bottom side than the top side.

The "poof, poof" can be lots of things, most likely an exhaust leak.

Start the car and put your hand around the header-muffler connection and see if you feel air coming out. Same up at the heads-headers connection, but that's a little tougher.

It could be a dirty injector causing a miss at low RPM.

If you're worried about it, it's worth the 30 bucks or whatever to take your valve covers off and find out.

[david dolan]

I have a broken head stud on my SC, the sound I heard when I found the broken bit was like a toilet flushing away all the money in my bank account!

[goldsc78258]

The sound is very close to an exhaust leak, the only way to find out is to take the valve covers off and try to retorque the studs

Hope this helps

[pcar9119]

I had 4 broken headstuds on on side. It sounded as if I had an exhaust leak. I removed the valve cover to be suprised by 2 of the studs falling out on me. ahhhhhhhhhhh.

[azasadny]

When I took the valve covers off, I found several barrel nuts that were loose and I torqued them down. The sound is very similar to an exhaust leak.

[azasadny]

When I took the valve covers off, I found several barrel nuts that were loose (cylinders 1 and 2) and I torqued them down. The sound is very similar to an exhaust leak, but much more expensive to fix!

[theiceman]

Hard to torque nuts that are not there ... \the sound you hear definitely warrents valve cover removal. You can take off the covers and check .. if the studs are broken you don't have to bother with new gaskets. \put the old ones back on till you come up with a plan.
get a good inspection mirror and go for it .. and if your not handy .. wait for toilet flushing sound as mentioned..

[kidrock]

could be an exhaust leak, loose nuts on your rocker / valve tappet assembly, or of course the dreaded scenario. check for exhaust leaks first...run motor and check exhaust connections closely. If not, you should definitely remove your covers and inspect. Loose or broken studs become immediately evident.

[dewshan]

This is what it looks like if they are broken and floating around in the valve covers

[john walker's workshop]

sounds like an old clapped out vw bug accelerating down the street. low, gurgling popping on acceleration. some quiet, some pretty obvious.

[ShakinJoe]

I think it might sound like this...SH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!TTTTTTTTTT

[masraum]

yeah, exhaust leak.