Looking for a little advice on a cometic HG problem

[driftin_sr20det]

I recently replaced my HG w/ a Cometic 1.3mm & ARP studs. When I installed it I noticed that the gasket on the drivers side rear had a rivet that when the head was torqued down bent the gasket where it hit a spot on the head. Now I didn't think much of it then. But now with the motor in the car and running a few times it is starting to leak oil from that spot. Compression is good and don't have oil and coolant mixing. But, I also haven't driven it yet. Have any of you cometic guys ever had this problem. I guess my real question should be if you think I should try re-torqueing the head or should I consider the gasket skrewed because of that bend?

-compression: 150psi across the board (no leak down tester)-Head & block decked and checked -No real cross-over between fluids, just a lite film on coolant-install was done correctly, and I searched
Modified by driftin_sr20det at 7:12 PM 6/25/2007

[garagelu]

I didnt have any luck with my cometic head gasket also. I didnt even bend it. It was installed properly and I even sprayed copper spray on it. It leaked also out the driver side rear. Also of people have had the same problem. Now I have a apexi 1.1 mm head gasket.

[driftin_sr20det]

Thats what I was expecting to hear a few times. And I also am thinking about the apexi. I really don't want to retorque, find it doesn't work and end up replacing the gasket . My back is all screwed up and I really don't want to tear it down twice in the engine bay. It's a pain.

[driftin_sr20det]

I also just remembered that I still have the PE 1.1mm left over from when I took the head off. It was leaking oil from around the front cover and I couldn't figure out why. When I took the head off I found the left over bead from the front cover during install. Somebody didn't wipe it off during assembly or something. Other that that the gasket worked well. They are equal to apexi and I've read a couple times this guy reusing his 6 times so maybe I should consider that as an option. Instead of droping another 200+ that I don't have.

[Morph]

I have a cometic but i dont think its a 1.3mm not to sure, but i havent had any probs yet. Leaked a little oil out of the front just b/c the 2 front bolts werent tightned all the way.

[otterman]

I heard that the reason a lot of people have problems with Cometic HG is because when you order it from Enjuku, 240sxMotoring, etc. the bore on the headgasket is larger then the bore on the SR. I don't know if that's true and causes prolems or not. Cometic is 88.5mm from those stores but the block is 86mm.

If you call Cometic and order from them they can make you a 86.5mm and its actually cheaper cause you don't pay the store mark up price.

[driftin_sr20det]

86.5mm x 1.3mm is what I'm running. It isn't good to run those big bore gasket on a stock set up. I was told 1mm over is usually as far as you want to go. That external bolt for the head is also as tight as I can get it so I don't know. I've almost convinced myself into using that Power Enterprise that is left over.

[Rosco]

I heard that the reason a lot of people have problems with Cometic HG is because when you order it from Enjuku, 240sxMotoring, etc. the bore on the headgasket is larger then the bore on the SR. I don't know if that's true and causes prolems or not. Cometic is 88.5mm from those stores but the block is 86mm.

If you call Cometic and order from them they can make you a 86.5mm and its actually cheaper cause you don't pay the store mark up price.

Actually the reason alot of ppl are having problems with the Cometic MHG is they are failing to get there BLOCK and HEAD decked and resurfaced. The only reason you can get away with not doing that with the OEM HG, is because cork (or whatever the material is) conforms to defects....MHG's don't form to defects. The 88.5mm bore Cometic MHG will work on the stock block (86mm). Just make sure to get your head and block decked!!

[driftin_sr20det]

Your right alot of MHG failures are because of not getting the head and block decked. But, what about people like me who do and still have problems. I heard plenty of stories and still attempted to try their product and I get to join the group that has been burned. Oh well though, sh@# happens right. I took a chance and wasn't on the good side of the stick.. hehe

[Rosco]

Your right alot of MHG failures are because of not getting the head and block decked. But, what about people like me who do and still have problems. I heard plenty of stories and still attempted to try their product and I get to join the group that has been burned. Oh well though, sh@# happens right. I took a chance and wasn't on the good side of the stick.. hehe

Yeah it sucks when that happens. Any chance you have called cometic directly and spoke with a rep? Jeff at heavy trhottle said that the PE HG's are a little better quality so maybe that will encourage you to use it. Is it still new?

[driftin_sr20det]

Nope haven't called them directly. Might be worth it, but I doubt it. The PE isn't new. It was originally on the motor when I got it. It's still in good shape, so I think I'll put it back on. I talked to PE and they assured me the gasket was reusable. But, I opted for the cometic because I wanted a 1.3mm thickness.