Blown Fel-Pro Headgaskets

[turbohcar]

Not sure if this is exactly the place for this thread so mods, please move it if you feel it's out of place. Thanks.

After hearing about how Fel-Pro headgaskets go bad so often on the 2.0L turbo DSMs, I decided to do something about it. I called Federal Mogul myself and talked to some of their R&D techs. Here's my thread copied and pasted from another forum:

I want your old blown Fel-Pro headgaskets. I got a call back from a guy at Federal-Mogul that said he wants to see some of these blown headgaskets so that they can determine what is wrong with the Fel-Pro gasket and try to fix it. I noticed that the gasket I got at Mitsubishi IS a composite gasket not multi-layer steel. He said that they went down to the Mitsubishi dealership and actually bought a set of head gaskets. One for a 1.8,2.0, and a 2.0L turbo and said that all of them are up to par with the Fel-Pros. SO....please send me your blown gaskets and lets get this gasket problem fixed. Thanks!

Brett
Bill Smith Auto Parts
2102 South Bunn Street
Bloomington, IL 61701
1-800-531-4684

 

[sbiggi]

Felpro and the normal STOCK gasket are crap. if you are making some real power.

They can fix their design by building a metal layer head gasket, paper and composite just cant take the cylinder pressures of a nonstock setup. (to a point anyways)

If they want to look at the mls gasket then they need to go to a dealer that carries them, and they are not stock to dsm's, but stock to evo's.

 

[snox135]

Fel-Pro does make a MLS head gasket for the 4g63 turbo. But unfortunately it does not come with there gasket set. You have to buy it separately

 

[timloomis]

i actually had an autoparts store guy tell me that fel-pro was the best you can buy,haha.i guess cometic,hks,mitsu,etc all suck.

 

[ALLBoostAWD]

Try some ARP's in that head, they will keep that Fel-Pro together. I havent had any problems with mine and I drive it like a pissed off soccer mom all the time..

 

[kanderson111]

Fel Pro works great for Chevy small blocks, but dsm is another story. I was informed by guys I work with about horror stories they had with the fel pro gasket on their Talons or Eclipses. As reliable as the stock Mitsubishi gaskets are, why take a chance with Fel Pro and have to take the head off again.

 

[95blackGsTurbo]

Felpro and the normal STOCK gasket are crap. if you are making some real power.

They can fix their design by building a metal layer head gasket, paper and composite just cant take the cylinder pressures of a nonstock setup. (to a point anyways)

If they want to look at the mls gasket then they need to go to a dealer that carries them, and they are not stock to dsm's, but stock to evo's.

Tell that to my car that was running mid 12's all day long on a stock gasket and headbolts. Took the motor apart and the headgasket looked new. And I am going to replace it with a stock one as well. Stock Mitsubishi is about as good as it get's price wise. I would see getting a cheap FelPro gasket it the stock one's were $150.00 but they are only $49.00 from Slowboy. It's like cutting corners on the timing belt. Why buy something else when stock is the best for the price.

 

[turbohcar]

Felpro and the normal STOCK gasket are crap. if you are making some real power.

They can fix their design by building a metal layer head gasket, paper and composite just cant take the cylinder pressures of a nonstock setup. (to a point anyways)

If they want to look at the mls gasket then they need to go to a dealer that carries them, and they are not stock to dsm's, but stock to evo's.

I just found this out myself. I ordered a stock headgasket through Mitsu. The composite gasket arrived and I thought it looked an awful lot like the Fel-Pro that went on the car in the first place. Finally, I figured out what the difference was. I can't see Fel-Pro changing their design when the dealer even lists the OE replacement as a felt composite gasket. Hmmm.....any suggestions? I just ordered the MLS gasket through Mitsubishi, but I'm still interested in persuing this issue with Fel-Pro. I'll have to ask them about the MLS gasket they offer. Maybe see if they can offer it as a complete kit with that gasket.

BTW, nice car sbiggi. I'm looking to go pretty much the route you have with yours.

 

[turbohcar]

Anybody want to send me their old Fel-Pro gaskets for good measure?