Re: is a new head gasket necessary?

Posted by RAB on January 23, 2005 at 01:55:46 from (195.93.34.11):

In Reply to: is a new head gasket necessary? posted by john lee on January 22, 2005 at 20:57:31:

The old flat-head petrols of the 40s and 50s, which probably recommended a decoke every 4000 miles or so indicated to re-use the gasket two or three times unless damaged.
I have never seen an OHV engine manual which advises other than fit a new gasket.
I have done it in the past when a new gasket was unavailable and I just wanted to see if the engine would run OK, before investing in an expensive new gasket.
These low compresion engines can possibly be sealed satisfactorily, but I can not recommend it.
I would not contemplate re-using a head gasket on a multi-cylinder diesel engine. The risks are too great and the chance of success is soooo low.
With the old flat heads, the head would be pulled down tighter and tighter onto the gasket to make a seal on subsequent re-fits, but on a diesel you can not do that and sealing can be so much more dificult - even with a new gasket.
Regards, RAB

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