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i thought i read somewhere a while back that cometic head gaskets are reusable.. any truth to this ? should i just buy a set of felpros and call it done? i'd like to use the cometics if i can but if they're gonna cause problems in the future i'd rather use new gaskets.

I do not recommend reusing any head gasket.

Rogue wrote:I do not recommend reusing any head gasket.

That's because he sells them.


I have re-used the cometic MLS on three different cars with no problems and one of those cars was my GTP, I re-used a set back in 2005 and my car is still doing very well.

Lets also give credit where it is due, the new gaskets are prepped and ready, I personally spent hours doing cleanup work on the gaskets getting them ready and if... I had not spent the time, I strongly believe it would not have been a successful re-use..

As a matter of fact, the last time I was cleaning the gaskets for re-use, I was very frustrated and considered spending the money so i wouldn't spend so much time. if you don't have the money, then work your but off.

just thought i'd ask, these gaskets only got about 7000km.. and i remember a while back reading that they were reusable.. i don't really wanna spend hours prepping and cleaning the cometics and still not have peace of mind when i'm driving it. i think i'll go with the oem style gaskets.

PDXGTP wrote:

Rogue wrote:I do not recommend reusing any head gasket.

That's because he sells them.

No, actually it is because it isn't worth the cost of a set of gaskets to put the engine at risk (especially a modded one) to a coolant leak. Id rather someone put on a new set of GM headgaskets, or Felpro then reuse any head gasket. It is just common sense.

I'm happy you were able to reuse yours and not have any problems. Now what happens when you tell someone they can do it and they have an engine failure. You going to buy them a new engine?

I didn't come here and say don't do it but buy new cometics from us instead. I simply said I don't recommend reusing ANY head gasket.

well put, i'll be buying a new set today.

Rogue wrote: I'm happy you were able to reuse yours and not have any problems. Now what happens when you tell someone they can do it and they have an engine failure. You going to buy them a new engine?.

Of course not, when you mod, you assume the risk. or... if you just don't have the cash, you are often forced to assume the risk.

Rogue wrote: I didn't come here and say don't do it but buy new cometics from us instead. I simply said I don't recommend reusing ANY head gasket.

I know, not a problem really, no hard feelings, My position was slightly stated that times are hard and if you don't have the money and need to get your car running, its possible to save some money with the mls because they are metal, with anything else I wouldn't have tried either. you can't even get the other brands off with out tearing them up.
again, no hardfeelings, some of us just have to make due in hard times.

That brings up another question, personally I'm not all that proud of the mls gasket... what is the best gasket IYHO?
I guess my beef with the MLS is the price, kind of spendy.

Not trying to pick a fight

Personaly I do not reuse head gaskets; they are not that expensive compared to the risk and hasle if one fails.

IMHO the MLS are the best, they seal well, hndle boost better and, do not normaly require retorquing after break in.

PDXGTP wrote:

Rogue wrote: That brings up another question, personally I'm not all that proud of the mls gasket... what is the best gasket IYHO?
I guess my beef with the MLS is the price, kind of spendy.

I'll say we have never blown an MLS headgasket when installed correctly. At certain boost and power levels I'm leery of stock or close to stock alternatives. 80% of this community would probably be fine with stock head gaskets while the other 20% may want to spend that extra bit on the MLS. After all if your spending thousands on headers, heads, etc..what is an extra hundred on a set of head gaskets?

You might want to use a trick the GN guys use.. Separate the layers, clean them thoroughly (there's often metal dust in there), and spray each layer with copper spray.

95naSTA wrote:You might want to use a trick the GN guys use.. Separate the layers, clean them thoroughly (there's often metal dust in there), and spray each layer with copper spray.

Two things:
1. I agree with Todd, get the new ones if you can afford to.

2. I cleaned my in a waterbased solvent, blew them dry with the aircompressor then sprayed them with a akly based cleaner that will dissplace the water and dry instantly, mine were clean before i prepped them for Install

My post was ment to suggest that in general. GN guys do that to new gaskets and even new gaskets have metal particles and crap between the layers.

So I would imagine that will make them thicker.. but very reliable.
Do you have a link? I'd just like to check it out, do they drill out the rivits, do the work and re-rivit them back together or just lay them down a layer at a time?

Here's a link:
http://www.turbobuick.com/forums/engine ... ation.html

Nice thread,
Wished I would have seen that 3 weeks ago because I just installed a set of cometics. I had considered drillin out the rivits when I was cleaning them but always had good luck getting them cleaned up. Next time tho..
That GNX dude has 1,8700... some odd posts, he's a busy guy on the boards.

I believe that was the answer the poster was looking for. this is also a good thread.

thats a good link, i may drill the rivets out and give them a good cleaning and see how they look afterwards.