Got my new head gasket to go on but not sure if it's the right thickness. The head hasn't been skimmed or anything so wanting just a standard replacement.

You didn't bring the car to a mechanic to check what thickness you need, didn't you? From what I can see it will seal properly and the thickness is alright if the head was not messed with, but you could find better gaskets on the market, there are a couple that are half metal, the only problem with those is that if water will be sucked into the engine there will be a greater risk to crack the whole engine block instead of tearing the gasket apart.

You have a new three-hole gasket, your old one is two-hole, so they're not the same.

 

Three-hole gasket will be fine if the head has a lick, to be honest you'll have trouble getting it to seal properly without a really clean face, why don't you just get it done.

 

As far as I can tell the difference between 2-hole and 3-hole is about 2 thou, do you have any way of measuring the piston projection?

Edited 26 September, 201411 yr by sepulchrave

I thought the three holes/notches on the left is on my old one and the new one is 3 to match.

I thought the three holes/notches on the left is on my old one and the new one is 3 to match.

 

So they're the same? How thick?

Looked into it a little more and the three hole gasket is wrong, as stated the original head gasket is only two holes (the two smaller holes) so needs to be replaced with a two hole one!

Thanks for the replies

To save making a new thread, would a elring head gasket cope with running 2.1 bar boost, or would it be better to run a genuine one?

Paul

Erling are basicky oem. Darkside developments sell and promote there products so it's not going to be rubbish.

I'd recommend arl pd150 'uprated' head bolts with a new gasket though.