I have gone through like 3 of these in the last 3 months. I was wondering if there is a known problem with them sealing?

I can seal the cylinders so no coolant leaks into them, but my problem is that coolant is getting into the oil. The block is a JG prepped resleeved block/with block guard and block girdle. GenII block. The car ran for 2K miles (not hard miles either), breakin miles. Then one day the headgasket blew and ever since, it's been in a garage.

I have had the head checked by 2 different machinists, and the block was checked for straightness. Everything was OK. The coolant/oil mixing problem happened only 2 of the 3 times i've had the gasket changed. And oddly enough, it was on the second time, that the coolant wasn't mixing with the oil until the headgasket actually blew. I heard from one person that the cometic gaskets don't seal....

Is this true???

The car runs great, (I don't drive it though due to the coolant oil mix), I just test drive it when I try something new. No burning coolant, no irratic idle, very responsive.

Any thoughts or other gasket companies that make ls/vtec gaskets in 85mm bore. I would really like more on the do the other companies gaskets seal with 85mm bore ls/vtec application.

The next step is to maybe pressurize the cooling system and see if it leaks down into the oil pan. Does this sound like a good idea? I'm running out of time and patience with the almighty LS/VTEC. It's been a pain in my ***. I'll have to get the C1 off the shelf and drop some CTR pistons into it and go from there. That will get me through winter and get the bugs worked out of this one. So then next summer I can boost the ls/vtec.

Thanks for any advice or ideas in advance.

 

You can have a machine shop bore a stock head gasket to 85mm.

 

Ever thought that maybe the sleeves are leaking at the bottom?

Suprdave

 

I thought that it may be the problem. I haven't ruled that out yet. The question that follows is...

It ran for 2K miles with no problems. Then it all started. if they were leaking wouldn't they have leaked this whole time? Just a thought.

Thanks for the thought though.

and as for the stock gasket opened to 85mm... the funny thing is that...that is what lasted the 2k miles.

Reason for blowing headgasket in the first place I believe was due to the dealership not retorqueing the cylinder head. everything streched and bang. They said that it wasn't necessary. So dumb me I figured they knew best. Boy was I wrong!!!!!

This time I have put the motor together myself. Due to the fact that the dealership was covering most of the replacement costs. Well they decided not to cover anything anymore. So i was on my own. I took the car apart and did the work myself. which has led me to the current problem.

Maybe I'll just call Javier up at JG and have him send me a stock gasket cut to 85mm. it has lasted me the longest.




[Modified by Shft@9GSR, 8:09 PM 9/13/2002]

 

i have used that gasket on a b20/gsr setup and nothing but probs!! sup coolant in oil and oil in coolant. Now i use stock ones. as for the sleves leaking, our did not but how common is this and can it be fixed?

 

Its interesting that you bring up this topic... we've had the same problem! We've gone through 3 gaskets, with the exact same symptoms.

The car would run fine for like 1-2k miles, then suddenly you'll notice water mixing with the oil. Head is true and the deck is true... couldn't explain it either..

Very frustrating..

 

What Torque Ratings are you guys using?

I'm doing 80ft-lbs and Copper Sealant Spray on my Motor.

IMHO, you need atleast 75ftlbs...look at http://www.b20vtec.com

Same problem on there.

Suprdave - who learns from others mistakes.

 

anyone have any good experiences with the cometic head gasket? i have mine here and am seriously thinking about not using it causes problems.

 

That seems to be a common problem with the bigger bores (84+mm). I am using ARP head bolts torqued to 75ft-lbs. on my 84mm B18C with a modified factory 3 layer gasket.

 

well did anyone do this to any of there gaskets...considereing you are all running either ls or crv vtec. According to c-speedracing.com
"Here is a picture of the headgasket. The bottom left and bottom right hand corners are where the dowel pins go if you decided to use the second method. As you can see, the holes on the headgasket don't need to be modified. In some applications, the two brass rings labeled 'REMOVE' on a headgasket need to be removed, otherwise the head will sit on top of those and will not seal. Be absolutely sure you remove the two on the intake side only."

 

you should be fine w/ the stock gasket..1mm over isn't a big deal...as far as the oil in the coolant goes i've seen about 7-8 blocks that the sleeves shifted in and leaked from the bottom....i would def have that checked out before you drive yourself crazy.

 

What do you mean "1mm isn't a big deal"? If you run a headgasket that is 1mm smaller in diameter than your bore size, you will run into quite a few significant problems.. #1 being from the heat inside the combustrion chamber, the overhanging part of the HG will get eaten up almost immediately. And #2, depending on your piston dome design, it (the HG) may interfere with the piston at TDC.

As for the sleeves shifting and causing a leak... its very unlikely in these cases (including ours) because the engine would be fine for 1-2k miles. Even after replacing the HG with another Cometic one, it would be fine again for 1-2k miles and then you'll notice it leaking again.

We've finally used a Cometic HG and sprayed a crap load copper spray sealant on it, now it seems to be sealing just fine. Dunno what to say about the quality of the gasket though.. shrug...

 

https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=267079

my B20/vtec cometc gasket also blew...now I use stock B20 gasket.

 

Tell me about it Mine just went too... around 4500kms.

 

Hey to all that replied. Just an update. I talked to a Cometic tech. and he told me that the Gasket I have been using has had an update! And it does have something to do with the coolant holes.

I ordered the new version of this gasket on Friday. I live in IL so it will take a few days to get to me then hopefully over the weekend to get it installed and check to see what's up.

I was told that this <U>MAY</U> fix the problem.

I asked the Cometic tech if there was reported problems and he said that he didn't know of any. So as soon as I checked this site this morning and saw the replies, I called him and let him know. He's going to check out the responses and hopefully use them as feedback. I'm hoping that this problem can be resolved and all of us can get our rides back on the road. Personally mines been down since Memorial day! So I'm hoping this helps all of us out.

PLEASE DON'T START BLAMING THE COMETIC GASKETS YET BECAUSE I AM JUST ONE PERSON WITH AN INDIVIDUAL CAR WITH A COMMON PROBLEM.

I will post as soon as I get the car together and have my results.

thanks to everyone who replied. It was of great use.


[Modified by Shft@9GSR, 8:06 PM 9/16/2002]

 

Ok.. thought I'd add another incident... Today our Project Integra started to act funny (again).. its been about 3500miles since we replaced the original Cometic headgasket with ANOTHER brand new cometic headgasket.

Guess what.. this 2nd new one has blown again!!! Car ran perfectly fine, oil was clean, no smoke or anything for the last 3500mi or so.. Just like the first gasket we got.. it ran fine for about 2000-2500miles or so with no symptoms or anything.

This is starting to get rediculous. We milled the head this last time just to be sure too.. the deck is a GE resleeved block and its true. So now we know its not the head, and it must be the HG (again)!.

Just thought I would update on the Cometic issue. Not knocking the product.. but i'd say its definately worth evaluating.

 

Just want to add, that we are using ARP head studs and they are torqued to 75ft/lbs with moly and like i said in my first post, we sprayed about 4-5 coats of copper spray sealant on it too.

Also, we've religiously used Honda OEM gaskets and have never had a problem.. this is the first time using Cometic products and they have struck out 2 for 2 already. Shrug.


[Modified by G3-TEG, 8:17 PM 9/21/2002]

 

Are your sleeves leaking at the bottom where they meet the block? I know for a fact that GE had some problems with the sealant they were using which caused coolant to leak into the oil pan. Hence, now everyone with GE sleeves is supposed to use Bar's Stop Leak to prevent "rust". (B.S. btw)

 

I'll reiterate... The mixing of oil and water STOPS for about 1000-2500miles after each time the HG was replaced... if it were the sleeves, then why would replacing the HG stop the problem temporarily? This fact has be stated numerous times already.

I'm stumped.

 

G-3...

You stated that you are using the "new and improved" Gasket from Cometic? If so, did you by chance check the old version gasket vs. the new improved gasket and see the differences?

I did and from what it looks like, it is SLIGHTLY different, and when I mean slightly, I mean just bearly!!! I haven't finished putting mine together yet but I am really thinking about stopping now and tearing it apart again to save me some time until the stock gasket (cut to 85mm) gets here.

I know that the update to the gasket was within the last 2 or 3 weeks. Is your gasket older than that? Because maybe you have the old version. The part numbers are the same, and there was no Version number on the gasket case to differenciate between old and new versions.

Thanks for the info on this though.

 

Hey.. No, we have the "old" version.. this last one (the 3rd one) has lasted for about 2500 miles - since i'd say around the end of july until now.

We are not using Cometic HG now, we are also switching to OEM overbored. We'll see what happens.

Keep us updated on your end too.

 

thanks for that info. I'll continue with the "new" version and see what happens. I should be done by the end of the week.

It would be earlier but I work 2 jobs and little time after work to get the car done.

I'll post again when done. And then we'll see what happens.

 

i know most here are using Cometic HG's on LSVTEC or CRVTEC and having problems with them. i'm currently using a stock sized Cometic HG on my B18C1 buildup without any problems. ARP studs as well. i got the HG about 7 or 8 months ago and installed it in May when the motor went into the car. 4 months and 15K on it with up to 125 shot injection and it's fine.

i hope everyone gets their problems solved soon to enjoy the buildups.
sorry to hear of so many HG's going.

later

 

its possible that ur not putting it on correctly

 

maybe 1 or 2 people may put it on wrong, but with it marked UP and pretty much only one way that the gasket "looks" like it fits correctly... it's kind of hard to do.

Unless maybe Cometic is marking them incorrectly. But like I said, it only looks like it fits on one way anyway.

thanks for the input.