I read in a recent discussion that it was recommended to not use the middle layer. But the middle layer is the only one that is consistent in it's coolant hole sizes. The top & bottom layers have bigger coolant holes in different places. Why should you not use the middle layer?

 

You should purchase a 1 layer made for your engine IMO.

A head gasket is not where you want to cut corners.

 

It's an OEM metal head gasket, just one layer instead of three - I wouldn't consider it cutting a corner at all.

The question's still unaswered.

 

1 layer head gaskets and 3 layer ones are made differently.
what you are trying to do has a 50% success rate.

 

Never have tried this but to answer your specific question, you would want to use an outer layer. Basically works as a shim.

 

the only way you can get a stock Honda dealer one layer headgasket to work successfully is to cafefully put sealant on the TOP of the LOWER layer gasket. The sealant has to be similar to what is oTOP of the top layer gasket. Basically the one layers needs this sealant on both sides or it wont work.

IMO, instead of going through this trouble, since a spoon or mugen has a 50% chance of sealing on 9KRPM runs with stock headbolts, try milling the head ... unless you have future plans to go turbo and dont care to permanently increase your compression, in which case don't mill.

The bottom line is you cant make a 1 layer from a stock one and have it be reliable.

Greg

 

Okay, so the middle gasket doesn't work because it doesn't have the "sealant" or whatever it is that's on the other layers. Does anyone know what exactly this "sealant" is? I'm not going to try to make my own, (I put her back together with all three), I'm just curious to know.

 

Copper Coat spray on gasket or similar product.

 

Ive done it twice....the motor I currently have has like 10-15k miles on it. I used copper spray. I run it to 8800 RPMS all day long. No problems here. I have seen people have problems with just installing regular headgaskets so if your an amatuer DO NOT ATTEMPT IT....unless you have time to replace it.

 

I'm guessing that this was a new gasket that you took the middle layer out of? Or did you reuse an old gasket?

 

you cant use the middle layer, its just a shim. if you are going to try this use the
lower layer as was said before

 

Like I said above, I put it back together with all three. I'm just curious for future reference.

"CivicEK" posted that he's used the middle layer twice, hence, my question - directed at him.

 

I useed the middle layer out of a used gasket. NO PROBLEMS. You just have to make sure everything is CLEAN and straight.