Jump to content


Photo
- - - - -

Head Gasket - Which Way Is Up?


Best Answer PaulColeman , 19 January 2015 - 10:40 AM

Okay, I rang the manufacturer this morning to get the definitive answer and it is as somebody previously said black composite side up. So I have it the wrong way round - bugger! The reason is that the black side is sticky and the metal side is not. The bores flex due to the compression and heat and the metal side of the gasket against the block allows the bores to move relative to the gasket without damaging it. With it upside down (as I have fitted it) it will fail between the bores where it is weakest. Oh well, you live and learn!!

 

Hopefully this will help somebody else in the future to not make the same mistake.

 

I have also suggested to this particular manufacturer that they include something to tell people which side is up.

 

Paul.

Go to the full post


  • Please log in to reply
16 replies to this topic

#1 PaulColeman

PaulColeman

    One Carb Or Two?

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 712 posts
  • Location: Bedford

Posted 17 January 2015 - 04:07 PM

I've got a new head gasket which is all aluminium on one side and a black composite type of material on the other side. The black side has a silver metal ring around each bore. Nowhere does it tell me which way up it goes and it's perfectly symmetrical so could go either way!!

 

There are no markings on it to say which is top and nothing in the paperwork which came with it.

 

Does anybody know which way is the correct way?

 

Thanks, Paul.


Edited by PaulColeman, 17 January 2015 - 04:26 PM.


#2 brad-the-bear

brad-the-bear

    One Carb Or Two?

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 1,114 posts
  • Location: under the bonnet

Posted 17 January 2015 - 04:28 PM

picture? 



#3 PaulColeman

PaulColeman

    One Carb Or Two?

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 712 posts
  • Location: Bedford

Posted 17 January 2015 - 04:30 PM

It looks like this... http://www.minispare...c/C-AEA647.aspx

where the other side is all aluminium



#4 Guess-Works.com

Guess-Works.com

    Gearbox Guru

  • Traders
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 19,838 posts
  • Local Club: Rugby Classic Mini Owners Club

Posted 17 January 2015 - 05:00 PM

by the phrase "it looks like this" you mean it's this particular head gasket or it just looks like it, as the one you have linked to quite clearly states top and front...

 

if it's not the same head gasket then you cannot treat it as being the same...

 

IMO, unless a head gasket is clearly marked or it is obvious which it top and bottom then it does not go on an engine.



#5 PaulColeman

PaulColeman

    One Carb Or Two?

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 712 posts
  • Location: Bedford

Posted 17 January 2015 - 05:09 PM

No it's not exactly the same as the one I linked to but the type of material its made from is the same... black composite on one side and aluminium on the other. No markings on it at all to say which is up and perfectly symmetrical.



#6 KernowCooper

KernowCooper

    Sparkie

  • Mini Docs
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 7,847 posts
  • Name: Dave
  • Location: The South West
  • Local Club: Kernow Mini Club

Posted 17 January 2015 - 06:16 PM

I'd be suspect of any gasket that is supplied that does not have top or any marking to indicate which surface goes where, ask the supplier which way is up. But I'm with Guess Works if its not a proven make like Payen its not worth my time to fit. I would get a Payen and do the job once or risk having to do it when its at the wrong time.



#7 Tamworthbay

Tamworthbay

    Crazy About Mini's

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 7,025 posts
  • Name: Clive
  • Location: Tamworth
  • Local Club: A5 minis

Posted 17 January 2015 - 06:20 PM

I agree with the above comments BUT from the other thread I know Paul needs the car back together by Monday so I would suggest fitting it the same way as the other you found then getting hold of the Payen one in case you need it in a hurry.

#8 racingbob

racingbob

    Up Into Fourth

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 3,061 posts
  • Location: Hampshire

Posted 17 January 2015 - 06:30 PM

if its for a 1275 I would only use a bk450

or if cant get the payen copper one

I haven't had a problem with either of them

except when minispares had a bad bunch of copper ones once

no reinforce around the oil hole and it leaked



#9 PaulColeman

PaulColeman

    One Carb Or Two?

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 712 posts
  • Location: Bedford

Posted 17 January 2015 - 07:32 PM

It's a Mini 1000 (sorry should have said) and I do need it on Monday, so I had to go with what I could source locally. The gasket set I bought is made by The British Gasket Group so I can ring them, but not until Monday when I need to use it for my Daughter.

 

I'm going to fit it with the aluminium surface against the head on the theory that the head is hotter than the block (from an internet source). That and the fact that the head is flatter than the block as it's been skimmed.

 

The previous copper one from Mini Spares lasted 9 months.

 

Oh the joys of a Daughter who wants to use a 40 year old car as a daily driver!!

 

Paul.


Edited by PaulColeman, 17 January 2015 - 07:34 PM.


#10 Spider

Spider

    Moved Into The Garage

  • Admin
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 13,845 posts
  • Location: NSW
  • Local Club: South Australian Moke Club

Posted 17 January 2015 - 07:44 PM

Black side up.



#11 PaulColeman

PaulColeman

    One Carb Or Two?

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 712 posts
  • Location: Bedford

Posted 17 January 2015 - 07:45 PM

Black side up.

Why?



#12 Spider

Spider

    Moved Into The Garage

  • Admin
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 13,845 posts
  • Location: NSW
  • Local Club: South Australian Moke Club

Posted 17 January 2015 - 07:49 PM

 

Black side up.

Why?

 

 

Ah, maybe because that the way they work best.

 

<Edit:  The way the Firing Rings are made in to the Gasket, they have the lowest surface area to the head, to ensure the highest sealing on the hotter part of the head)>



#13 PaulColeman

PaulColeman

    One Carb Or Two?

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 712 posts
  • Location: Bedford

Posted 17 January 2015 - 10:24 PM

Hmmm... interesting. If that's correct then I have it the wrong way up. There were no markings on it whatsoever other than the part number and nothing on the sheet of paper which came with it indicating which way was up. I've fitted it now and I'll ring them on Monday to find out. If it should go one way or the other up then I'm going to suggest that they tell people!!!

 

Cheers, Paul.



#14 brad-the-bear

brad-the-bear

    One Carb Or Two?

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 1,114 posts
  • Location: under the bonnet

Posted 17 January 2015 - 10:45 PM

is there any writing/imprinting on the gasket?



#15 Dusky

Dusky

    Crazy About Mini's

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 5,322 posts
  • Location: Belgium

Posted 17 January 2015 - 11:58 PM

Copper side is up on the minispares gaskets.

And they came like that from factory :P  10933233_761619823906213_264757985_n.jpg






0 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users