Reusing Head Gasket [Merged 2-8] headgasket reuse re-use re-using

[4ged4G63]

ok so I was searching through some old invoices in the folder that I got from the previous owner when I bought the car and I found that my car has an HKS head gasket and ARP bolts. Well, I screwed some #@%#@%#@%#@% up on the motor(2 years has gone by since it was rebuilt and since I bought it) and need to rebuild it and a friend of mine was sayin that I don't need a new head gasket and bolts.

Opinions and/or info please on this...thanks

 

[92awddsm]

Did you reuse the same hg after the head removal or did you get a new one? Try getting the car up to operating temp and retorque the head. That might help you out. Ive seen arp's stretch after a torque and heat cycle.

 

[zdrux]

Did you reuse the same hg after the head removal or did you get a new one? Try getting the car up to operating temp and retorque the head. That might help you out. Ive seen arp's stretch after a torque and heat cycle.

This is the only thing I haven't tried. And will be done together along with the compression test this weekend. I have re-used the metal gasket since it had no more than maybe 600 miles on it at the time and "visually" looked good, but ofcourse I could be totally wrong. Also, the gasket was NOT sprayed with any sort of copper spray as I have read is recommended by a few posts on here with people having similiar problems. Perhaps I should give that a try.

Also, I know this will be a very hard question to answer but I`ll take my chances. Has anybody have any experience with what kind of heat punishment the head can take before getting warped? The car is a 2G with a 6bolt, the temp guage is placed up/down not left/right like the 1G is, the highest it has reached is *ALMOST* the top hottest mark, I would say maybe 90% on the guage for probably a minute or so. Should I try getting away with a new gasket? Or spend the $$ even though the head is not guarenteed to be warped?... Assuming ofcourse that this IS afterall a headgasket problem.

 

[92awddsm]

This is the only thing I haven't tried. And will be done together along with the compression test this weekend. I have re-used the metal gasket since it had no more than maybe 600 miles on it at the time and "visually" looked good, but ofcourse I could be totally wrong. Also, the gasket was NOT sprayed with any sort of copper spray as I have read is recommended by a few posts on here with people having similiar problems. Perhaps I should give that a try.

Also, I know this will be a very hard question to answer but I`ll take my chances. Has anybody have any experience with what kind of heat punishment the head can take before getting warped? The car is a 2G with a 6bolt, the temp guage is placed up/down not left/right like the 1G is, the highest it has reached is *ALMOST* the top hottest mark, I would say maybe 90% on the guage for probably a minute or so. Should I try getting away with a new gasket? Or spend the $$ even though the head is not guarenteed to be warped?... Assuming ofcourse that this IS afterall a headgasket problem.

Warpage is possible, thats why it would be a good idea to retorque while the engine is hot. You have a better chance of pulling it straight. Do a compression test before and after to see if it shows any difference. Since it is a used gasket, I wouldnt be surprised if you end up replacing it. The cometic has an outer layer on each side with embossed sealing areas. Once they have been flattened, it is hard to get it to reseal. Anyways, good luck and let us know what the outcome is.

 

[zdrux]

The cometic has an outer layer on each side with embossed sealing areas. Once they have been flattened, it is hard to get it to reseal.

I wasnt aware of that.. if I would have known this, I would have never reused the gasket in the first place. I now have a chance to re-do this problem, can anyone recommend what gasket to use this time, assuming thats the source of the problem, I now have a chance to get the cometic again, the mitsu metal HG, or the mitsu oem gasket..

I have the AGP L2R turbo, looking to running no more than 20-25psi on the street, and more on race gas..

 

[Defiant]

I have re-used the metal gasket since it had no more than maybe 600 miles on it

Oh well shit.

No, you never re-use a head gasket.

It would've saved a helluva lot of time if your title didn't claim NEW head gasket.

 

[Omega]

Rule of thumb: Never reuse a gasket. Especially a head gasket.

 

[mitsugst95]

i dont see why i could not reuse it if it has very low miles. but my question is how should i reuse it such as cleaning it with acetone or so forth. the exhaust manifold wouldnt seal as the studs are beyond repair. any info is appreciated, thanx.

 

[Defiant]

Never recommended. Once torqued down, used up.

Your call.

 

[Laser4G63]

I agree, but a lot of people on here will disagree and say it's ok to reuse. I pitched mine when I removed my head and installed an OEM gasket in it's place. I didn't want to risk getting any debris between the layers and messing up the seating of the head.

 

[PSI2HI]

I wouldn't even think twice about not reusing it unless there was something noticeably wrong w/ it.

 

[mitsugst95]

I wouldn't even think twice about not reusing it unless there was something noticeably wrong w/ it.

should i just used acetone to clean it or just clean the surfaces ???

 

[92awddsm]

should i just used acetone to clean it or just clean the surfaces ???

Once a hg is compressed, its used up. Try and reuse it and you will probably have leaks between the water ports because the embossed section has been flattened and can no longer create a good seal.

I am glad to see this post because now I know what vendor not to trust when info is needed.

And if you must reuse it, clean it with a very light cleaner, not a solvent like acetone. The acetone will remove any coating on the gasket that will promote seal.

 

[AWDJDMTALON]

I can see no reason why a shop would ever recommend reusing a headgasket. I have been in the auto repair world for 15+ yrs. I have never nor will I ever reuse a headgasket. It will never reseal properly again. Period. End of subject.

 

[mitsugst95]

well i guess we will find out how well it seals. I dont want to buy another hg as there is no miles on this one and only maybe 10min of running. I will post my results

 

[slvrstingray]

Not that I would ever reuse a head gasket, but I've heard of several honda people resusing the aftermarket metal ones that they buy. They always use some kind of "HIgh temp copper" spray gasket. I'm not sure who makes it, but that would raise the chances for success in reusing your head gasket.

 

[PSI2HI]

Haha, if the car was never overheated there should be no reason why the gasket will not seal again. I'd clean the head and block good and copper spray the gasket and as long as there is no visual problems w/ the gasket and the block or head isn't warped it will seal just fine. I reused my mitsu 4 ply gasket on my 93 4 times and never had any problems leaking. And this was on a 500+whp car.

 

[PSI2HI]

Most VTEC honda motors come w/ metal HG stock. I also run a D series civic and i've as well reused the metal HG on those as well w/ no problems of leakage whatsoever.

Don't trust me as a vendor, thats fine. Go out and spend $90 on another gasket when there is no need for it unless the current one has visual defects.

 

[BlackHawkAWD91]

Running a re-used metal hg, 30psi on race days, No Problems

 

[PSI2HI]

should i just used acetone to clean it or just clean the surfaces ???

I use a razor blade and lightly scrape all the old gasket material off the head and block and then use alcohol to clean it. Copper spray both sides of the gasket and reintsall.

 

[91nbtsi]

Agree. You would be stupid not to reuse it. I used my mitsu metal gasket at least 4 times over. I ran 35+ psi about 75% of the time. Just clean off the head and block good, and clean up the gasket good. Then use either a copper spray, or a product called "High Tack".

To the people who are saying never to reuse one, you obviously have no experience with metal head gaskets. I would never reuse a regular fiber gasket or whatever you want to call it.

 

[RamenPride]

I am glad to see this post because now I know what vendor not to trust when info is needed.

MachV says it can be reused and doesn't compress, so...

They consist of 4 layers of metal that you don't have to worry about blowing out, they are reuseable, and they don't compress.

same thing for FFWD Connection...

Did we just say they were STEEL? That's right folks. Genuine Mitsu quality thru and thru. Just like HK$'s design for a fraction of the cost! They measure in at .067" thick (around .010 thicker than an uncompressed stock gasket) and will not compress when torqued. A very nice "safety insurance policy" to have when you're really making the power. Since the gasket is reusable, it could be the last head gasket you'll ever buy.

 

[92awddsm]

Ive got plenty of experience with metal hg's and I know better than to try and reuse one(any hg for that matter). Do what you want, doesnt matter to me. Its not my car and I dont have to work on it. I would rather spend the $100+ on a new gasket than to have to redo it because Im too cheap to replace it.

 

[PSI2HI]

Ive got plenty of experience with metal hg's and I know better than to try and reuse one(any hg for that matter). Do what you want, doesnt matter to me. Its not my car and I dont have to work on it. I would rather spend the $100+ on a new gasket than to have to redo it because Im too cheap to replace it.

Have you ever reused one? Either you've never resued one or you had some problem doing so, explain your problems or reasoning please. Unless there is notable reasoning on why you say not to reuse it then why tell people they cant? This is the common problem i notice about information you can pick up on internet forums is that someone who doesn't really have any hands on experience will read something somewhere take it as good info then start passing it on into other forums/threads when they really have no idea if its good information or not. So now you are telling most of us who have reused these gaskets time and time again on dozens of cars that we shouldn't be resuing the gaskets and that they will leak...

The most of us commenting have many years of experience w/ this exact gasket and have reused them mulitple times on dozens of cars w/ no problems whatesoever. Myself and 91nbtsi have reused these gaskets on numerous 400-500 hp cars and never had any problems leaking. I reused mine 4 times over multiple years on my 500+hp daily driver w/ no problems, and i know 91nbtsi has done the same.

 

[92awddsm]

Have you ever reused one? Either you've never resued one or you had some problem doing so, explain your problems or reasoning please. Unless there is notable reasoning on why you say not to reuse it then why tell people they cant? This is the common problem i notice about information you can pick up on internet forums is that someone who doesn't really have any hands on experience will read something somewhere take it as good info then start passing it on into other forums/threads when they really have no idea if its good information or not. So now you are telling most of us who have reused these gaskets time and time again on dozens of cars that we shouldn't be resuing the gaskets and that they will leak...

The most of us commenting have many years of experience w/ this exact gasket and have reused them mulitple times on dozens of cars w/ no problems whatesoever. Myself and 91nbtsi have reused these gaskets on numerous 400-500 hp cars and never had any problems leaking. I reused mine 4 times over multiple years on my 500+hp daily driver w/ no problems, and i know 91nbtsi has done the same.

I have about 12 yrs experience as an ase certified master automotive machinist and have seen others problems from reusing gaskets. Cometic, felpro, etc all have some failure rate when being reused. I am not spreading misinformation, Ive seen it first hand. And my experience ranges well beyond just dozens of cars. Like I said, its your car so do as you please, I dont really care.

And I never said you CANT reuse it, I just advise against it. Next time you look at a new gasket, pay good attention to the embossed areas around water ports and the oil feed hole going to the head. Now compare this to a used gasket. Better yet, measure the uncompressd gasket with a micrometer then remeasure after it has been compressed and then tell me they dont compress. I can gaurentee it will be at least .008" difference between new and used. That is enough for me to not want to do the job a second time.

And for those that swear by a used gasket, let me know. Ive got a used cometic that I use for plate honing. If you are interested, Ill sell it to you.

 

[PSI2HI]

It's been tried and true to work and work flawlessly. If you deem it necessary to purchase a MLS gasket each time you pull the head feel free. Now i myself other in this thread have resued time and time again the MLS gasket w/ no problems. Like you stated you haven't actually tried it, your just going off other informantion. And not only myself, but yet mulitple other shops, and mulitple other members have stated they reuse them w/ success as well. Hell i've reused them in many Honda's i've done as well w/ perfect success.

Me being a vendor maybe i should say you cant reuse them so i can up the sales of the MLS gasket, but im not gonna do that when i know reusing them works perfectly fine just as good as the new one you pull out of the package each time.

Each and everyone has their own car and can choose to do what they want w/ it and take whoevers word they want as far as good or bad information. Im saying reuse it as well as are many others and you got a few who says dont. You be your own judge!