Gasket reuse?

Xjers:

Can head gaskets and base gaskets be re-used (if undamaged) or do they have to be replaced every time the head/cylinder is removed?

Thanks,
Herb

 

Head gasket yes base gasket no. If the head gasket has been on for a long time I would change it. If the base gasket has no damage or peeling then a thin bead of Ultra Black from permatex would be a good safe insurance policy.

 

I'm going to dissagree with the reuse of a head gasket. Once crush is achieved, it is done, never to seal correctly again should you reuse it. Base gaskets are no big deal, use the Permatex as Blue pointed out and you should be fine. Of course in the perfect world, you would receive a new one with the head set you purchased so you would also have a new head gasket!

 

Fully aware of the Manufacturers "Crush; No Re-use" dictate.

I've re-used head gaskets before and never had a problem.

I clean every single speck of anything ... on ALL the mating surfaces with ScotchBrite.

I treat all the mating surfaces with a very Damp (less than moist) wipe-down of lacquer thinner. Athletic socks are great for this.

Then, I wipe-down the whole shmear with Isopropyl Alcohol. This prepares the surfaces for sealing.

Using "Indian Head" Gasket Sealant; I coat the mating surfaces, paying attention to cover 100% of the block with an even coat of the product.

Then I do -- BOTH -- sides of the Head Gasket. Heavy. (You have not achieved "Heavy" unless you get some of the Indian Head on your hands.)

I coat the Cylinder Head and get the process rolling. Put the heavily sealed gasket over the studs ... without making contact with the block;yet.
Let all the surfaces begin to cure for 10-minutes

Then ... I "Set" the gasket on the block, using a stolen dinner fork, and completely "Seat" the gasket ... and then, ... "Wipe" some of the sealant under the circumferences of the holes.

Then, ... I put the head on and, never deviating from the pattern, torque the head in 5 Foot pound increments until it's spec-ed.

When you get the thing all put together again ...

Start it and run it with your wrist on the cam cover. When it gets to where you need to remove your wrist ... Kill it.
When it cools enough to allow you to hold your wrist on it; again ...

"Torque-check" it. Go over the whole pattern with slowly applied force on the torque wrench until you reach spec's.

Fini.

 

Although we have differing opinions I think Roberts advice is sound. I am speaking from my recent experience. I had removed my cylinder head to fix a leak only to have it leak worse. So I removed the head again did some work and reinstalled it with the same gasket. Now it must be noted that this gasket had only about 100 miles on it. It now has about 400 on it and since it still leaks I will replace it when I remove the head again because of the longer distance on it, not because of the leak which I don't believe is the fault of the gasket.

 

I'm facing the same issue re-use a 1500km logged head gasket OR pay the Pesky Dealer $80 for another new Yama one yikes!
Inna Past one could and did spray a used head gasket with Copper Coat.. It usually worked 'fine' on race engines for racing even.
Do note that there is no crush on these gaskets (at least mine) It's just 3 layers of tin .. Not much there to damage.. providing it does not get bent up on removal.

 

I did spray mine with copper coat on the advice of my machinist. Still leaks. zanotti.com sells the head gasket for $35 USD. You may be able to get an American XJ buddy just across the border to order it and pick it up at your next opportunity.

 

Reusing the old "racing" head gaskets was a common practice years ago as they were usually constructed of copper and reuse was possible. I'm please to hear you have been successful in reusing your gaskets Rick, helps keep more garbage out of the landfill. Indian Head is the snakeoil of the motor builders guild and no wonder, it works very well. If I were in very dire straites, I would be tempted to reuse the old gasket if it weren't too old. I would, however, be concerned about the compression seal ring having enough crush left to be usable. There is the weak link in reusing head gaskets. Indian Head is made for some pretty intense environments but I don't recall it being able to hold a compression chamber tight for very long on its own. Pitty we can't buy 0.003 copper or steel rings to drop in there just to back it up. I'm not tempted to try the reuse thing yet. Maybe when I've got the time to pull heads a few times before I get it right I'll give it a go. If I'm ever in the same spot, I guess I'll give it a shot.