4g54 Turbo headgasket woes.

[BlownPajero]

=Hi I'm having a lot of trouble with my astron 2 engine in my ute.

engine seems to be munching its way through head gaskets, my patience has just about worn out and im feeling like i have run out of options.
ive only been pumping the usual 10psi into it and they keep giving up the ghost. im going to give it one more shot and replace the gasket one more time...

this time i need to be armed with the right parts to do it one last time.

what is the best way + combination of parts to go to keep this from happening. have tried a permaseal monotourque gasket and a 0.8 steel shim on the second attempt with a brand new machined head and cyl head studs all torqued to spec.

was evident tonight when the radiator hoses were swollen and rock hard.

[Sigmaproject]

I have a 2mm copper gasket and an O ringed block in a GN. No gasket issues in 10 years. (except a minor coolant seepage issue that was fixed with coppercoat.)

[Sigmaproject]

I had a Scorpion that had an O ringed head using a standard gasket...would be an option that would not require the block to be stripped down.

[BlownPajero]

hmm im not really up for o-ringing the block or head, there has to be A nice easy solution to the problem surely...

[Superscan811]

It's blowing head gaskets for a reason.
First things first,
WHERE is the head gasket blowing out, and is it in the same spot each time?


The usual things that will cause a gasket to blow.
1. Block or head aren't flat.
2. Corrosion in the head or block, around the water holes.
3. Re-using old head bolts.
4. Over or under torquing the head bolts.
5. Not making sure the head / block is clean before assembly.
6. Detonation (pinging).


Cheers.

[d3v147]

It's blowing head gaskets for a reason.
First things first,
WHERE is the head gasket blowing out, and is it in the same spot each time?


The usual things that will cause a gasket to blow.
1. Block or head aren't flat.
2. Corrosion in the head or block, around the water holes.
3. Re-using old head bolts.
4. Over or under torquing the head bolts.
5. Not making sure the head / block is clean before assembly.
6. Detonation (pinging).


Cheers.

^^This. And I guess 6 given all the other decent work done. I didn't decompress mine, and only running 5 psi I see knock retard on my ECU with fairly conservative timing.

[stealth]

U would want to have a good look somethibg
isnt right
as when done properly the head gasket should
fail around 18psi on decent tune
eith the right gasket up and studs around 28
cheers stealth

[amgis_obrut]

SCE Titan copper gasket, no need to O ring the block
pn SCE-S91537

[Turbo047]

I have to agree with the other posts. There must be something wrong with head or block mating surface. I have had no problems at all with standard cheap ass gaskets and stock (reused) head bolts and I've been 15 psi for years.

Good luck and let us know when you find out what is going on.

[BlownPajero]

have checked the block and its within specs, head is brand new and has been machined anyway before i put it back together. im thinking its time for a MLG gasket ive used graphite and composite gaskets and both have given up the ghost.

yeah i did see the sce gaskets, might grab one and hylomar it to both surfaces... that should keep it happy once and for all.

[mic_77]

Might be a stupid question but you said that you used a monotorque gasket with a shim how did you seal the other side of the shim I am presuming you used 2 gaskets to sandwich the shim also are you running arp studs or standard head bolts.

cheers Mic

[BlownPajero]

I used hylomar on the block side of the shim and did not use hylomar on the head gasket surfaces.

will pull the head off it either tomorrow or sunday and see where exactly its blown again...

[d3v147]

I just installed an EBC and am about to go test it. I will tell you where mine blows lol