I have a 2000 si head inlcuding the original head gasket. The head has about 30k miles on it. Im not sure of what kinda of life it had since its from a car I got from an auction.. The question is do you think its possible or safe to use the original head gasket? The reason Im asking is because I already ordered one from someone on here but it hasnt made it to me yet and I need to put this motor in the car by like tomorrow

 

Always put in a new gasket,...so wait a few more days!!
Do it right the first time ...if your want to waste your time putting the old, go ahead and then put in the new one when it arrived!!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by HATCHingMN &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Always put in a new gasket,...so wait a few more days!!
Do it right the first time ...if your want to waste your time putting the old, go ahead and then put in the new one when it arrived!!</TD></TR></TABLE>

better safe than sorry

 

just out of curiousity, have you ever re-used a headgasket? Or you're just saying it because its common sense to not use a used headgasket? Im really looking for people with hands on experiance that have re-used ine and it was all fucked up or used it and it worked like a charm...

Any other opinions???

 

Yeah I concur. Even something as small as a valve cover gasket gets replaced if I remove the valve cover. Gaskets are cheap enough to replace whenver you remove that particular piece of the engine. Besides if you have the head off,may as well throw a new one on. Waiting sucks, but it would suck to have your head get all warped from reusing a used gasket.....

 

You should always replace gaskets, not matter what kind. It will save you having to deal with problems down the road. Good Luck.

 

i always replace the headgasket when taking off the head, better to know that u wont have to take everything apart again

 

Even if re-using a headgasket had a 90% success rate (which it doesn't), why would you even take the chance!?

Do it right, or not at all.

 

new headgasket

 

Just go to autozone and get the headgasket, they're cheap!! I understand that you just want to save a little but gasket are pretty cheap!!
If you dont want to put in a new one why bother asking us!!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Slammed Si &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">just out of curiousity, have you ever re-used a headgasket? Or you're just saying it because its common sense to not use a used headgasket? Im really looking for people with hands on experiance that have re-used ine and it was all fucked up or used it and it worked like a charm...

Any other opinions???</TD></TR></TABLE>

I've reused head gaskets before.

Make saure they are BONE dry...and apply a generous amount of copper gasket sealer. Never had a problem

 

new headgasket fo sho

 

Always rebuilding street bike motors I use the same head gasket unless there is something physically wrong with it. It's metal just rub off the oil with some carb cleaner and put it back together

 

I have also reused head gaskets. As long as they're undamaged, relatively straight and you treat them with copper spray/adhesion promoter, you should be fine.

And who the hell replaces a valve cover gasket every time you take it off? That's an expensive and completely rediculous habit. I dropped mine in aircraft stripper last time I had my VC off and it took all the corosion and **** off of it. It used to leak a little bit: not any more .

 

i'm gunna second everyone else's comments and say to replace the head gasket.

If that thing goes within the next few months, you'll shoot yourself for not doing it now.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Archidictus &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I have also reused head gaskets. As long as they're undamaged, relatively straight and you treat them with copper spray/adhesion promoter, you should be fine.

And who the hell replaces a valve cover gasket every time you take it off? That's an expensive and completely rediculous habit. I dropped mine in aircraft stripper last time I had my VC off and it took all the corosion and **** off of it. It used to leak a little bit: not any more .</TD></TR></TABLE>

lol. I don't even use a new vave cover gasket on a new engine unless it's actually bad, or it came with a gasket kit.

And those of you have never re used a gasket, let alone even changed one before...please don't add your "thoughts"

 

It is possible to reuse a stock head gasket like if you just pull your head to check out the motor not "too" big of a deal. However when swapping to a completley differn't head I would recomend it. Also don't forget to check the factory head bolts. You may want to upgrade to new head studs depending on how many times they have been TQ down before.

 

I usually get a new one because 90% of the time if i am pulling the head off the block of my car i am doing it to do a head gasket

 

buy a new one

dont even bother useing the old one unless you bolted it together and then you had to pull the head

even that would be pushing it

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Emerika &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

And those of you have never re used a gasket, let alone even changed one before...please don't add your "thoughts"

</TD></TR></TABLE>

My point exactly...

Already re-used it hopefully all goes well

 

hahahaha

ppl who waste money on valve cover gaskets amuse me.

I've taken my valve cover off close to 10 times already, and used the same gasket over and over and over and over and over and... well you get the picture.

no oil leaks

 

Well I only removed my valve cover twice on my 240 and I did change the gasket both times. After all the problems I had with that car, I tend to be on the conservative side. And I have seem the results of not ever changing the valve cover gasket......when I pulled that engine out, the oil was ridiculous. Besides, I didnt see a big deal in changing out a 6 dollar part....

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by specv5150 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Besides, I didnt see a big deal in changing out a 6 dollar part....</TD></TR></TABLE>

That's two trips to Taco Bell, my man .

 

Yeah...it is......two nacho bell grandes. I can see both sides. If you removed the head on your own will and not because the head gasket blew..LOL, I can see no reason not to resue it but at the same time, if you have it off....why not.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by HATCHingMN &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Always put in a new gasket,...so wait a few more days!!
Do it right the first time ...if your want to waste your time putting the old, go ahead and then put in the new one when it arrived!!</TD></TR></TABLE>


very true....but if you are going to a 2 layer or even 1 layer gasket i would reuse the old gasket by taking a layer or 2 out....but use COPPER SPRAY when doing so....i have done this on about 15 cars without a leak yet....