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can you reuse GM MLS Head Gasket never runned

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Old 11-13-2013, 08:34 PM
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Default can you reuse GM MLS Head Gasket never runned

Sooo I made a stupid mistake , forgot to put lifter trays when torquing heads down gasket was new , I'm going to buy new gm head bolts again since u cant reuse

Any thoughts
Old 11-13-2013, 08:53 PM
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Some people have had success spraying permatex copper spray on both sides of the gasket and reusing it..

I use that on exhaust manifold gaskets and it works great..
Old 11-13-2013, 08:56 PM
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Thats what I been seeing so far
Old 11-13-2013, 09:58 PM
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I have done it countless times with Cometics and twice with GM gaskets with no issues. +1 on coppper spray.
Old 11-13-2013, 10:58 PM
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Good to hear how many coats you guys do
Old 11-14-2013, 12:48 AM
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I've heard you can but that definitely doesn't mean I would. Guess my time and patience is lacking......
Old 11-14-2013, 02:32 PM
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Pay the $30-40 or whatever and just get some new ones. Not worth the headache down the road.

Although, I installed a new oil pan gasket (similar to the head gasket) and had to take the pan off and check something. I'm reusing it since I didn't run any oil through it.
Old 11-14-2013, 05:54 PM
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Originally Posted by zachary3
Sooo I made a stupid mistake , forgot to put lifter trays when torquing heads down gasket was new , I'm going to buy new gm head bolts again since u cant reuse

Any thoughts
I did the same with my Cometics, used a light copper spray and had zero issues. 8k miles later still no issues.
Old 11-14-2013, 06:58 PM
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Reusing other gaskets isn't the same as reusing head gaskets, so if you can't afford the $50 gaskets then give it a shot, shouldn't have an issue if they were brand new
Old 11-14-2013, 08:31 PM
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I would be worried on how it would effect torque values .
Old 11-14-2013, 09:15 PM
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I would run them, I have reused Cometics after the engine had run time and boost on them. I pulled the heads to stud them... No leaks at 11#'s of boost.
Old 11-14-2013, 09:28 PM
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Originally Posted by JakeFusion™
Pay the $30-40 or whatever and just get some new ones. Not worth the headache down the road.

Although, I installed a new oil pan gasket (similar to the head gasket) and had to take the pan off and check something. I'm reusing it since I didn't run any oil through it.
i second this.
Old 11-14-2013, 10:41 PM
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Run it....zero issues with an MLS style gasket

The black coating wont be on the heads when you remove it and nothing will look out of place. Torque values arent effected....you would have to throw the OEM torque to yield bolts away but assuming you ran ARP studs or bolts, you can reuse all of that as well. Wipe any of the bolt lubricant or anything else carefully off the gaskets with a paper towel (no harsh chemicals), and assuming the black top and bottom layers aren't peeling you can reuse them with zero issues.

The gaskets work based on the compression of the formed steel embossment in the layers....that hasn't changed....assuming the black sealing layers are in tact that gasket will work perfectly reinstalled.....hell you can reuse them on a motor with light miles if the black coating sticks to the gasket....sometimes it does and sometimes it doesn't but most stuff I have seen that hasn't been ran usually looks perfect when you unbolt it.

Hope this helps....

-Tony
Old 11-14-2013, 11:07 PM
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Originally Posted by JakeFusion™
Pay the $30-40 or whatever and just get some new ones. Not worth the headache down the road.

Although, I installed a new oil pan gasket (similar to the head gasket) and had to take the pan off and check something. I'm reusing it since I didn't run any oil through it.
Completely different gasket design and the metal/o'ring gaskets are designed to be reused.
Old 11-15-2013, 07:20 AM
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^^^^yea that's what I was saying, pretty much every gasket besides the head gaskets is meant to be reused or it would get pretty expensive every time you changed out an engine part
Old 11-15-2013, 07:31 AM
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For dyno testing we've used the same set of head gaskets 2-3 times with the help of some copper spray. Never had an issue.
Old 11-15-2013, 07:51 AM
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I didn't say they were the same. They are similar however. As long as the rubber is okay and you didn't transfer any to the block/head, you should be fine, especially with copper spray.

The money to buy new ones isn't much either, so either approach would be fine.
Old 11-15-2013, 09:25 AM
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They aren't remotely the same, have to disagree with you there. Unless you mean they are both made of some kind of metal. Then that means my rear quarter panels are exactly like the steel beams in a sky scraper.
Old 11-15-2013, 10:10 AM
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You're right. The rubber o-ring doesn't exist on the head gasket. I would think it would make it more likely to be re-usable if there is no rubber to compress/degrade?

Am I wrong in thinking that way? I know it's always recommended to change MLS gaskets, but I've heard Cometic head gaskets are reusable. And they are MLS...
Old 11-15-2013, 10:58 AM
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Originally Posted by Tony Mamo @ AFR
Run it....zero issues with an MLS style gasket

The black coating wont be on the heads when you remove it and nothing will look out of place. Torque values arent effected....you would have to throw the OEM torque to yield bolts away but assuming you ran ARP studs or bolts, you can reuse all of that as well. Wipe any of the bolt lubricant or anything else carefully off the gaskets with a paper towel (no harsh chemicals), and assuming the black top and bottom layers aren't peeling you can reuse them with zero issues.

The gaskets work based on the compression of the formed steel embossment in the layers....that hasn't changed....assuming the black sealing layers are in tact that gasket will work perfectly reinstalled.....hell you can reuse them on a motor with light miles if the black coating sticks to the gasket....sometimes it does and sometimes it doesn't but most stuff I have seen that hasn't been ran usually looks perfect when you unbolt it.

Hope this helps....

-Tony
I have new head bolts to use and I just got some cheap felpros just in case on stand by

block and heads are both rebuilt didn't do any machining to tge heads or deck

gasket was brand new also with a coat of copper spray



Originally Posted by Damian
For dyno testing we've used the same set of head gaskets 2-3 times with the help of some copper spray. Never
Thanks


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