Here's what the factory Service Manual says:

(1) Degrease the mounting surface of the cylinder head gasket.
(2) Lay the cylinder head gasket on the cylinder block with the identification mark at the front top.
-Using the special tool (shows picture of a torque wrench), tighten the bolts in the order shown (diagram)in two or three steps.
-Caution: Attach the head bolt washer in the direction shown in the figure.

That's it! That is ALL the FSM has to say,...nothing about cleaning head bolts, bolt holes, or whether anything should be lubed.

So, all the jousting aside boys, what is the accepted way to do this? Surely I am NOT the only one on this forum to ever do a valve job on one of these.


95 3.0 LS (24v)
241,000 miles and still going