Head bolt torque specs for a 2001 Kia Rio?

Answer 1

I found this on another post but thought it might help out. When tightening the head bolts always start in the center. Tighten the 2 center bolts the either diagonally or in a circular pattern work your way to the outside bolts. Diagonally is usually the best procedure. Be sure and put just a little oil on the threads of each bolt and under the head of the bolt. A drop or two on the first 2-3 threads is plenty. As you screw the bolt in it will spread to the rest of the threads. Too much oil and it will transfer to the head gasket and get forced under the head gasket and cause a failure. Wipe off any excess with a rag. Tighten each bolt finger tight as you install it. This keeps the oil from having a change to wick off of the bolt and under the head gasket. Once all the bolts are installed here is the procedure supposedly taken from the Kia Manual.

Tighten all bolts to 36 ft/lbs starting in the center of the head.

Loosen all the bolts in the reverse order, outside to middle.

(This is done to precrush the gasket and set it to the head)

Retighten the bolts to 18 ft/lbs from the center.

Turn bolts 90 degrees, 1/4 turn, starting at the center.

(This is done as the bolts are "Torque-to-yield" bolts. It sets the final stress on the bolts.)

You're done