2.5l head gasket options
 

when its time to replace the head gaskets in the 2.5 non turbo cars.. are you guys using the stock head gaskets? Is there a better option that has a less chance of leaks, or is oem best. Especially for a turbo rs like mine. gonna just pull the motor and do head gaskets and clutch at the same time.

The OEM are good and the best choice for a non-turbo. Cometic makes head gaskets in different thickness so you have the option of dropping compression a little.

The consensus seems to be that either the newest revision of the NA HG, or the STi (EJ257) gaskets are pretty reliable. They're about the same price too. I went with the NA gaskets for the wagon build but kinda wonder if I should have gone with STi. Call your dealer and verify that the p[art number you order is the revised one, last I check there are still two part numbers available for SOHC.

had the motor out anyway to do the clutch too, so just got the whole engine re-seal kit. It did come with the updated head gaskets. I also powder coated the intake red since i had everything apart. It turned out pretty good. Finished everything up and drove it home today.

Awesome. Post pics. :cool:

here ya go

DO NOT USE COMETIC HEAD GASKETS. Just had an STI engine build come back for failed Cometic head gaskets at 99 miles at low boost. They also "brinell" the head and make a permanent indent in the head surface that has to be machined off each time to reseal. :mad:

Here are some pic of the indentations.

man, thats crazy. im glad i went oem.

I had cometics on an STi block once. That block blew up on a dyno though... so I never saw it after the fact to know what the gaskets might have done to it. :lol:

Lots of people run Cometics successfully on lots of hi-hp engines, so I dunno.

Had the heads tested for hardness today, and they came out to 87 - 101 on the Brinell scale. A little low, but >85 is supposed to be okay.