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[tango]

ok guys i think ive got a possible head gasket blown
first of all how do i check wich gaskeat has gone as its a 2.6 v6
secondly ive got a pair of 3.2 heads
will these go on
whats the difference betwwen the 2.6 and 3.2 and will i need to get them skimmed before putting them in altogh theyve com of a working engine
and lastly probably a silly one but if the gasket is gone one one side
can i change just the one side or is it not advisable

[Rods2]

IMHO if you are stripping the engine this far it is worth doing both.

When I had a blown head gasket on the passenger side, I changed both and found the drivers side also in quite poor condition. 

[albitz]

yep, do both together.Dont skim the heads. Cam timing will be out and inlet fanimold may not fit.

[Osprey]

What makes you think it is a head gasket fail?  Oil in water is more commonly oil cooler, frinstance. 

Have you done a compression test? 

[tango]

i have oil in my water
but no water in my oil
the coolant system seems to pressurise to a point where i have had a burst pipe
if i put the 3.2 heads on the 2.6 what difference will it make if any
or is it best to find a 2.6 head
also how do i do a compresion test and how do i check wich side is gone

[albitz]

Oil in the water will be oil cooler failure.Much easier to fix than head gaskets.Im sure there is a guide in the guides section.

[Bionic]

Why do you want to change the heads? You cannot alter they type of one only either so both heads will have to be done anyway.
Your problem points to it being probably the oil cooler because the oil will be forced into the cooling system under a higher pressure than the coolant reaches. For the hoses to feel as you say they do is the same as mine are, and on every one I have had too.
If you are unlucky enough for it to be the head gasket (they are usually very, very reliable) you should never change one, always change both because they have both done as much work! Same applies to anything that is paired on a vehicle.
If it turns out to be the oil cooller then you will have to clean out the cooling system. This was covered in a post not so long ago so have a search for it.
GudLuk
 

[Gaffers]

Sounds most likely to be oil cooler rather than head gasket.  The hardest part of the job is the flushing afterward.

[Peti]

This is another topic :

I'm wondering if cylinder head bolts should be kept dry or lubricated with some engine oil.

Looking at this, I'm getting confused:

2C•18 2.5 and 3.0 litre engine in-car repair procedures


Preparation for refitting

.....
....
...

35 Ensure that the cylinder head bolt holes in
the crankcase are clean and free of oil.
Syringe or soak up any oil left in the bolt
holes. This is most important in order that the
correct bolt tightening torque can be applied
and to prevent the possibility of the block
being cracked by hydraulic pressure when the
bolts are tightened......
...
..

40 Lightly lubricate the threads and heads of
the new cylinder head bolts with engine oil