Head Gaskets.

[pete]

OK so stop me when I'm wrong.

There are 3 sorts of Head Gasket for the K series. The standard one, the multi layered one (arguably no better) and the new Chinese one which is reported to be bomb proof.

Anyone know where I can get a Chinese one from, or any reasons why I should use something different instead.

(Regular readers may be thinking, golly it's a long time since Pete's asked a question about his car. Yeah, well I kinda get distracted in the summer, then there is other stuff to do but I'm back to car obsessing. There's be lots of stupid questions to follow!!!).

[tut]

That should be a speciality of Simon's.

tut

[campbell]

I already had a spare "regular" one when we reattached my head, Robin said OK to use it and 4 years on he is still right.

Other than that can't offer you any more guidance!

[mac]

China?

[Shug]

More times than you think, it's not the gasket itself that's at fault. Your choice of replacement gasket is partially also made by the fault that caused the failure.

If the head is slightly porus/soft, an MLS gasket is arguably the choice - but I'm led to believe it's just as reliant (or perhaps moreso) on liner heights.

The standard gasket will work fine if the liner heights are good, the head isn't soft and there are steel dowels used to prevent head shuffle.

Gasket failure is usually the symptom, not the cause, so the gasket you use is a more complicated answer than "a is better than b"

Before you proceed, get the head inspected for hardness and porosity and check the liner heights are within spec, or you're just patching a wound that'll burst again...

[Rich H]

What he said.

Gasket is often simply the symptom and different gaskets fix different problems.

A good engine with a 'standard' gasket will last for years but a crap engine with a bogs dollocks gasket will last 20 mins.

[woody]

Shug speaketh the truth.

Chinese gasket available from rimmer brothers, not not must evidence of it out there as it's so much more expensive and newer.

[tut]

Not sure about the Chinese solution Woody, you know how it is, you fit one, and an hour later you want another one.

tut

[Rich H]

[woody]

Not sure about the Chinese solution Woody, you know how it is, you fit one, and an hour later you want another one.

tut

Think you confusing gaskets with girls.

[pete]

Shug speaketh the truth.

Chinese gasket available from rimmer brothers, not not must evidence of it out there as it's so much more expensive and newer.

Which did you use?

[woody]

Never used the Chinese.

[mckeann]

robin will probably remember,but i THINK we used the standard gasket. When we put the kiwirog head on that car, the liner heights were fine, and the head wasnt porous, but thats not to say something hasnt changed in the past 3 years We used new headbolts, so you can probably get away with re-using them.

[pete]

Yeah it was a standard one that it had on. It's gone to a local guy (I know - should have gone to Kiwiwrog to be checked but got lazy about posting it).

I'll just put a standard one on it - is that the Elise parts "motorsport" one then? I'll put new bolts and the errm valves and stuff are being replaced (I don't really understand that last sentence ).

It'll be fine - it's my fourth HGF I think! Might be me... (Although I've yet to pay for one thanks to the AA).

Pete

[mckeann]

the kiwirog head has different sized inlet valves. I presume you mean valve stem guides? As thats where the oil usage probably comes from.