New Mitsu MLS Headgasket was copper sprayed - How to clean?

[goalie6263]

Long story short, A new Mitsubishi MLS headgasket was sprayed with copper spray and put on the motor and torqued down. It was never ran, and now I am wondering if this can be reused and how I can clean it because it got dirty.

Please focus on the question rather than saying "why would it be copper sprayed"

 

[90laserRSfwd]

Can it be re-used after it was torqued? Physically yes. SHOULD you use it? No. You wouldn't re-use bearings, oil, etc. that where already used. The head gasket is the most important gasket in the engine. For the ~$200 I wouldn't re-use it.

Now as far as cleaning. First, that particular gasket has sealer on it as manufactured. You could use brake parts cleaner to remove the copper spray, but it's also gonna remove that sealer.

The choice is ultimately yours, my 2 cents is save yourself the possibility of a failure and just purchase a new gasket, or clean it and take the chance it'll seal. Also, keep in mind the block and head need to be machined to a minimum of a 40 R.A. finish on both mating surfaces. Any competent machine shop can do this.

Your saving grace on re-using the gasket is the motor was never (hopefully) fired up and brought up to temp (heat cycles).

 

[goalie6263]

Can it be re-used after it was torqued? Physically yes. SHOULD you use it? No. You wouldn't re-use bearings, oil, etc. that where already used. The head gasket is the most important gasket in the engine. For the ~$200 I wouldn't re-use it.

Now as far as cleaning. First, that particular gasket has sealer on it as manufactured. You could use brake parts cleaner to remove the copper spray, but it's also gonna remove that sealer.

The choice is ultimately yours, my 2 cents is save yourself the possibility of a failure and just purchase a new gasket, or clean it and take the chance it'll seal. Also, keep in mind the block and head need to be machined to a minimum of a 40 R.A. finish on both mating surfaces. Any competent machine shop can do this.

Your saving grace on re-using the gasket is the motor was never (hopefully) fired up and brought up to temp (heat cycles).

The motor was never started with the head on. The deck and head have been machined and it was torque with ARP head studs.

 

[1990TSIAWDTALON]

I personally wouldn't re-use it. I had a problem with my engine before I was ready to put it back in and the head had to come off. My engine had never been fired either but I sure didn't want to have a failure on the head gasket so I bought another and felt better about the whole deal, knowing that all was brand spankin new.

 

[mickeyjam]

Just buy a new one and save your self a possible headache