WHEN CHANGE THE ENGINE GASKETS

We all know working on combustion engines is a complex and delicate job. It requires a bagful of skills, and getting it wrong can have disastrous consequences. Engine gaskets are an essential part of the engine workings. Parts like head gaskets, valve cover gaskets and other engine seals are unassuming and inexpensive, but not giving them the attention they deserve could leave you with a hefty bill to swallow.

The price of a new engine or a major repair is many times higher than the cost of changing the seals on time. So, here’s why you should not skimp on a few gaskets.

With engine gaskets, the stakes of doing a good repair are high. Even when working on other parts of the engine, like exchanging a water pump, you should always replace the exposed seals and gaskets. Wear, heat and compression will have distorted the seals, and leaks are likely to occur - even when you reassemble all parts in the exact same position.

Whenever you’re changing gaskets on a vehicle’s engine, it’s good practice to check all the other gaskets and seals for leakage as well.

When changing the gaskets on your engine, always use seals made from the same material used by the OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer). They should be the same thickness and shape to prevent gasses and liquids from seeping through.

There are a few exceptions where you can use oversized cylinder head gaskets. Extreme temperatures may have warped some of the engine’s housing parts. If that’s the case, the mating surfaces will be machined to restore their flatness. Oversized gaskets are slightly thicker than the original ones and will compensate for the size reduction due to the machining.

When reassembling the engine after the repair, use the correct torque settings recommended by the OEM. Not enough torque might cause leakage, and too tight might distort and damage the gaskets. 

If you want to know more about how to detect and prevent blown gaskets, read our blog about replacing cylinder head gaskets.