View Full Version : Can i reuse an used head gasket? Metal 4 layer gasket...
Hi there
Alright, so i was running an organic head gasket.. untill it failed and i now have a bit of oil mixed with my coolant... no good... So i have a 4 Layer Genuine Mitsubishi/Ralli Art Headgasket. It was used for a few thousand miles, but i pulled it out when I instaled ARP headstuds. my organic gasket blew out and im thinking about reinstalling the metal mitsu gasket. should i, or should i not? the gasket is in great shape, and ill be sure to clean it to make sure it seals right.
Thanks!
Tanner
2fst-gst
11-09-2010, 10:23 PM
If it's the MLS you will need both head and block surface's to be perfectly flat. Take them to a machine shop and have them milled to spec.
As far as reusing it, personally I wouldn't, but I don't see why you couldn't reuse a MLS in good shape.
Integra 26R
11-09-2010, 10:53 PM
I have before. Even reused a couple felpro ones. Just depends on how you feel about it and what you are doing with the car.
i plan to push around 24-26 psi on e85... not gonna go for too much more power. what should i torque the head studs down to? stay at the 90 ft. lbs the manual recomends, or go for more seeing that im doubling the stock boost?
Thanks!
tanner
northsydryd
11-10-2010, 01:01 AM
lmao,your planning that much psi and your being a cheapskate on the "skin" of an engine.if you were keeping it stock for a dd i would say go for it and youll prolly never see a problem but when you crank up the boost that gasket is not gonna stay in 1 peice
northsydryd
11-10-2010, 01:02 AM
oh ya about the "skin" of an engine.can you survive without skin? no it holds everything in...my analogy,lol
zerepdivad
11-10-2010, 02:22 AM
good luck with that one.
well seeing that the engine is running 26 pounds now, and this gasket lasted 2 monthes... i thinks thats decent considering its a $30 gasket from oriley... but the engine can handle it for another few weeks untill i start my built over the winter.. and how can you break a metal head gasket? lol thats gonna take a LOT of pressure, but i supose its possible... so what do you think i should do? what head gasket would you recomend? whats torque should i crank the head down to?
Thanks!
Tanner
2fst-gst
11-10-2010, 10:06 AM
26 psi really means nothing when it comes to blowing headgaskets, it's more about the airflow the engine is seeing.
Is that on a 16g?
Pick up a new composite gasket slap in on and torque the arps to 90 ft/lbs with moly lube and you will be fine.
your previous gasket should have easily handled that, I would be more worried about why it blew, and not because of the 26psi you were pushing, worry more about your tune/knock, etc.
Plenty of people have gone very far with arps and a composite HG.
hmmm... thats a good point.. i had a LOT of knock issues when i started the tuning, and i tried to solve the knock problens for a few weeks on a bad tune... i bet thats what happened.. cool, well ill throw in another composit gasket and torque to 90 thanks guys!
OH, do i need to have the head machined? the engine never overheated or anything, but my buddy here said i need to have it done or the head wont seal... any advice? thanks!
all_rice
11-10-2010, 03:50 PM
well I would recommend you have it resurfaced its usually 30 dollars to do it. You could check it with a straight edge and a feeler gauge to see if its warped but that only works if your straight edge is perfectly straight. With a composite head gasket there is a little more room for it to seal than a metal one. I would spend the money on a new one but thats just me.
2fst-gst
11-10-2010, 06:26 PM
OH, do i need to have the head machined? the engine never overheated or anything, but my buddy here said i need to have it done or the head wont seal... any advice? thanks!
Yes, that was mentioned a few posts back. Both surfaces must be machined for a mls
26 psi really means nothing when it comes to blowing headgaskets, it's more about the airflow the engine is seeing.
Is that on a 16g?
Pick up a new composite gasket slap in on and torque the arps to 90 ft/lbs with moly lube and you will be fine.
your previous gasket should have easily handled that, I would be more worried about why it blew, and not because of the 26psi you were pushing, worry more about your tune/knock, etc.
Plenty of people have gone very far with arps and a composite HG.
The tune plays the biggest role on a metal head gaskets life besides obviously having flat surfaces on both the deck and head.
What was the cause of your first gasket failure? I've re-used mls head gaskets before any issues. Take the head in and have them hit it with a good straight edge and check your deck as well. Make sure you can eat off both surfaces before you install.
2fst-gst
11-11-2010, 02:18 PM
The tune plays the biggest role on a metal head gaskets life besides obviously having flat surfaces on both the deck and head.
that is assbackwards: so you're saying I can have a great tune, and not have my surfaces decked, and run a MLS and I won't push coolant? Cylinder pressure is just that, your HG will not differentiate knock pressure from boost pressure.
If anything, a MLS will handle more knock/crappy tune. (compared to a Composite)
A MLS installed correctly with a shitty tune and a crap load of knock will/should not blow because of your tune. Something else will let go first.
A composite on the other hand is more like a fuse as many people would say.
____________________________
If you're doing a backyard/garage headgasket fix then use a composite. If not deck your surfaces and use a MLS if you would like.
It's not that hard.
well, i threw in a new cheep-oh gasket from oriley just to get the car home from school.. i plan to start my build this spring so ill have the head and deck both machined. im not sure what caused the 1st gasket to fail. i pulled it out and it looked decent for the most part... i was having a problems with DSMlink and my tune, so im thinking thats what caused it.. i didnt have the misfire decection turned off, so the engine would randomly cut fuel and run really lean. i could shut the car off for 10 sec. and restart it, andit would go away for another few min... i think thats what caused it to do this.. but i have these issues solved now, and the cars about to go away to storage :( thanks!
oh, the turbo is a 68HTA by forced performance btw... lol thanks guys!
that is assbackwards: so you're saying I can have a great tune, and not have my surfaces decked, and run a MLS and I won't push coolant? Cylinder pressure is just that, your HG will not differentiate knock pressure from boost pressure.
If anything, a MLS will handle more knock/crappy tune. (compared to a Composite)
A MLS installed correctly with a shitty tune and a crap load of knock will/should not blow because of your tune. Something else will let go first.
A composite on the other hand is more like a fuse as many people would say.
____________________________
If you're doing a backyard/garage headgasket fix then use a composite. If not deck your surfaces and use a MLS if you would like.
It's not that hard.
The only time I've seen metal headgaskets go is from a bad tune. Giving that both surfaces are clean and straight. Where in my discussion did I say that surfaces don't play a part.......... I said that "The tune plays the biggest role on a metal head gaskets life besides obviously having flat surfaces on both the deck and head."
I've also seen metal headgaskets push coolant on the dyno with bad tunes and be totally fine when the tune is corrected.
FYI. Detonation and boost pressure are not close at all in cylinder pressures numbers. Detonation is a lot greater........
2fst-gst
11-15-2010, 05:25 PM
agreed :)
duwackerTSi69
11-16-2010, 01:08 AM
Well then, ill sell my used, just pulled, felpro permatorque mls hg.. lol..
2fst-gst
11-16-2010, 09:48 AM
Well then, ill sell my used, just pulled, felpro permatorque mls hg.. lol..
why the heck did you have to change it in the first place?
duwackerTSi69
11-16-2010, 03:51 PM
Apparently 8grand for my car was too much to ask for when i had it fully loaded with parts. So I made it back to stock and parted everything out. And I still cant sell my car,lol.. I got some h beams for you, make you a sweet deal..lol..
why the heck did you have to change it in the first place?
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