Lifting a head and re-using the same gasket...

[ianh1968]

As it says in the subject...

If you lift a head and the gasket has not "gone",
is it OK to re-assemble it with the same gasket?

I always use a new gasket... Do you?

Ian

[InimiaD]

Yes.

[66S]

Hi Ian,
Once fitted and torqued down, the gasket is compressed. Theoretically, that is the end of it but, years ago, when parts were hard to get here in New Zealand, head gaskets were often painted with aluminium paint and re-used. It always seemed to work ! You have to ask though, is it worth doing today when parts are available and relatively inexpensive.

Al

[Spider]

Depends of the construction of the gasket, but for the price of them, fit a new one and be done.

[Chalkie]

i stuck A copper head gasket in the oven to flatten back out and reused it and its still going strong

[ianh1968]

Thanks, Gents!

It's not the money side of it that I was thinking about...

I was just wondering if it was possible that a "pre-compressed" gasket
when assembled on the same block, with the same head, could be in
any way better.

I once had a head "skimmed" and the finish was so rough that the
gasket would not seal the water-ways. I hand-hammered an auxiliary
gasket out of brown paper, the stuff you wrap parcels up with. It may
sound very crude, but it worked perfectly well.

It was with this in mind that I asked my original question - Perhaps engines
are not that fussy about head gaskets? (Provided the surfaces are clean
and flat (and "stoned" (Thank you, Spider)) The fact that I no longer "goo"
the gaskets means that they also tend to come off cleanly now.

I was just wondering what the options were...

The "new gasket each time" camp are winning so far!

Any bids from the opposition?

Ian

[JohnA]

I was talking to a friend who is a very successful mini tuning specialist and he said when they are using the engine dyno testing and changing cams, slackening the head bolts they change the head gasket (bk450)every tenth cam change. I always fit a new one.

[Lord Croker]

I have done this, many years ago on my first Mini (a Van) & I removed the head to carry out an emergency repair due to a valve problem, fitted the new valve & realised I didn't have a new head gasket, so I took a good look at the old one, declared as looking 'very nice', re-fitted it & drove the van for many thousands of miles without problem! In my defence I have to say I was only 17 at the time & the compression ratio of the engine was 8.3:1 which may have helped!
Regards, Rich.

[phil82]

Do you change the head gasket when removing the rocker assembly?

Thanks
Philipp

[Astro]

using a Cometic it was never a problem changing the rocker shaft. It only may be better to empty the cooling water. Cometic themselves are claiming to reuse it several times. On the other hand, you can buy several standard gaskets at the same time.

[rich@minispares.com]

on my race car I always use a new gasket if the head comes off (or if I have had to do any work on the rockers) - for the cost of a gasket its just not worth the risk - when the other costs of actually getting the car to the race circuit and paying the entry fees - it would be a proper example for 'the want of a nail the battle was lost...' if one popped.


saying that I have NEVER blown a headgasket on my race car - I use the TAM1521 / BK450 and they always come off perfect.


I think if the gaskets where £100 quid each, then they would maybe be more cases of people reusing them, but when the cost what they do, is it really worth it?

[Astro]

...


I think if the gaskets where £100 quid each, then they would maybe be more cases of people reusing them, but when the cost what they do, is it really worth it?

not sure. Last year we had a quite hot hillclimb. A not reused Cometic broke and even the rear silencer of the Maniflow burned out. Nevertheless the brave little one got his points.

[phil82]

@ Rich: thanks a lot. That's how I did it so far as well - so will stick to that procedure.

Regards Philipp