Can you reuse a head gasket

dag019 · Oct 15, 2022

Pretty much as the title. Can you reuse a head gasket or do they have to be new every time.
Now the reason I ask is I have just done a load of engine work to a new to me 200tdi. Had a new head gasket fitted was test started and run long enough to realise one of the glow plugs is blowing. (See video on my rebuild thread: link). I have now once again removed the head to try and repair the glow plug threads. If I succeed in this today I can put everything back together again and test it IF I can reuse the head gasket. If not I will need to wait for a new one to arrive.

kevstar · Oct 15, 2022

Ive re-used head gaskets on boat engines as your pretty much stuffed if you dont have a spare
there is still a couple of them still going strong after 5 years. Tbh id throw it back together & see
it works. Whats the worst that can happen

kevstar · Oct 15, 2022

dag019 said:
Pretty much as the title. Can you reuse a head gasket or do they have to be new every time.
Now the reason I ask is I have just done a load of engine work to a new to me 200tdi. Had a new head gasket fitted was test started and run long enough to realise one of the glow plugs is blowing. (See video on my rebuild thread: link). I have now once again removed the head to try and repair the glow plug threads. If I succeed in this today I can put everything back together again and test it IF I can reuse the head gasket. If not I will need to wait for a new one to arrive.

Edit ive re-used an old cosworth gasket & it worked just fine.

landowner · Oct 15, 2022

Once got the wife to iron a copper head gasket off my Mini, worked a treat torqued 5lbs ft more than it should have been

miktdish · Oct 15, 2022

You should be fine, it won't be degraded by the little use it's had.
Just torque it up as normal ...

dag019 · Oct 15, 2022

Excellent. Thanks for confirming all. It has only been fitted for a couple pf months and probably been run for about 2min. I will see how I get on with glow plug repair. And if successful will throw it all back together with the existing gasket.

TR3a · Oct 15, 2022

Used to soak the copper/asbestos ones in hot water for an hour....it made the asbestos swell. Never had one fail.

Henry_b · Oct 15, 2022

A new one is only a few quid, why reuse?

Can you reuse a head gasket

dag019

Well-Known Member

kevstar

Well-Known Member

kevstar

Well-Known Member

landowner

Pensioner Pete

miktdish

Guns n Chainsaws

dag019

Well-Known Member

TR3a

Active Member

Henry_b

Think outside, no box required.

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