Headgasket on backwards. Reuse gasket and headbolts?

[kronus]

Yup, I'm a moron and installed my hg backwards. Figured it out after idling the car and revving it for a few minutes. Would free revving it and idling for a few minutes create enough heat and cylinder pressures to require a new hg and headbolts? I understand they are torque to yield bolts, but I don't know if the torquing sequence stretches the bolts or if the first few drives do. And I'm using a mls gasket. Is that trash too after being heated up and compressed? Or can it be reused?

 

[jayson427]

I think after its torqued down and taken off again you need a new one but im sure ## head bolts are fine.

 

[96' Eclipse GS]

Save yourself time and money down the road, buy a NEW HG and Head bolts. At the least a new HG, better safe then sorry!

 

[VelocitàPaola]

Technically, just torquing TTY head bolts is enough to render them useless if removed, but Mark Bullett has successfully reused them. I'd probably reuse the head gasket if it passes a quick visual inspection, but your mileage may vary.

 

[BurrowZ]

Is ~$40 on a proven Fel-pro worth your peace of mind?
EDIT: I somehow wandered into the 420a section which I really know nothing about. Disregard this post

 

[kronus]

Technically, just torquing TTY head bolts is enough to render them useless if removed, but Mark Bullett has successfully reused them. I'd probably reuse the head gasket if it passes a quick visual inspection, but your mileage may vary.

I was hoping a wiseman would chime in. Like everyone has been saying, I'll just get new bolts, they're cheap for what they are. But there are literally no miles on the head gasket, just a few minutes of idling, that's why I figured I'd ask.

 

[#40Fan]

I'd buy at least the the HG.

 

[bryanwheat]

I'd be more worried about the fact that you blocked off the oil flow to the head when you did this.

 

[kronus]

I'd be more worried about the fact that you blocked off the oil flow to the head when you did this.

Not what I wanted to hear, but it never is. Thanks for the heads up, I didn't even think about that one.

 

[bullettdsm]

If I didn't have so may sets. I would take your old bolts. Yours are fine to reuse. Somewhere in the anals (intentional mispelling ) of Mitsubishi tech bulletin crappola, there is actually a note in there that the head bolts ARE good to reuse if checked for stretch. BUT they recommend that they get replaced. You haven't even heat cycled your bolts, so they are in no danger of being no good (and yes, I'm aware that they are torque to yield).

Your head gasket on the other hand is a different story. Do not reuse it unless you are feeling that Russian Roulette is your game. Keep in kind that you have now compressed areas that should not be compressed.

As for blockage of oil (and mix of water and oil), I would be concerned if you went tooling around town, but if you just basically idled it with a couple of rev's. You should be fine. Just be sure to get to get all the water/oil mix out.

MB

 

[dodgeholenda]

focus on replacing HG you don't want to take any chances.