This is incorrect. Please stop spreading misinformation.

 

^cleanin up the streets one post at a time.

lol

if im nominated for pres, ill nominate you as my vice. but a cool one though, like Al Gore. cuz he invented the interwebzzzzzzzzz and the Mp3.

but seriously OP-
listen to those who have been down the road you wish to traverse.

"Many a ship has been sunk on the quest for power."
-some old chinese dude.

 

I will never use another 3mm HG

 

Agreed, stock gasket is proven.

 

I did not really want to get into this again but I think it is pertinent to add and clarify.

As I said before no matter if you go to a 2mm or 3mm the longevity of the install is going to depend on the tune. I believe there is only (4) ways the gaskets fail on our cars. Based on the below list if your tuner does his job detonation and preignition won't be a problem, nor will the install. So it is left to you to make sure the car does not get too hot.

1) Detonation
2) Continuous Preignition
3) Poor Install
4) Overheating Causing Warping

Secondly, many tuners don't like the thicker gaskets b/c if one of the above happens there is less margin of safety for them vs the stock gasket which is nearly bullet proof.

Another point to add is ,when installing the head gasket the distance between the outer perimeter of the piston and the cylinder head increases. This distance is commonly known and the "Quench" area and it is a very specific measurement and contributes greatly to combustion efficiency and the MBT. This loss of quench and lowered compression makes the entire cycle less efficient which is why a stock HG at XXPSI is going to make more power than a car with a thicker gasket. Now this the compromise here is that with pump gas an engine with a factory head gasket generally has to stop boosting around 14PSI b/c preignition cannot be prevented at higher pressure levels. This is where the a thicker head gasket shines as it will allow as much or more than 20PSI on pump gas and assuming all else is equal the increased boost has a much greater effect then the loss of compression and quench.

In summation,

Factory head gasket is reliable, more efficient and cheaper but on pump gas (Race Gas or E85 is a much different story) there is a reduced potential to make power due to lower boost pressures.

Thicker head gasket is more temperamental and must be used conservatively but due to greater boost pressure has the opportunity to make more power.


So now that we have established that a thicker is headgasket if used correctly will last a very long time lets look at some of the other techinacal details.

When installing the headgasket the distance between the ourter perimiter of the piston and the cylinder head increases. This distance is commonly known and the "Quench" area. It is a very specific measurement and contributes greatly to combustion efficancy.

 

This is a good unbiased summary.

 

Has anyone tried E85 and a thick headgasket to see if they work well together? The E85 would help with the detonation issue.

 

I think what did mine in was boosting when major amount of timing was being pulled (for whatever reason). I was at 20lbs of Boost for a few short pulls while the Turbo/manifold/DP were glowing red.............

car overheated a few days later

 

Your crazy you still have room to go with your car, you should get back on the dyno and turn the boost up, if I recal corretly you were only at 20PSI.

 

Make sure the head is flat , put some ARP head studs & use the stock one.

Fernando @ Kings Performance