I need to replace my head gasket and this is my current one, I beleive its a two hole gasket

There seems to be many gaskets to choose from, euros have one for £41 and one for £27 but they're both elring and basically the same just the price is different (not sure why) or do I just go to darkside and get a elring one from there for £30plus the vat?

http://www.eurocarparts.com/mobile/ecp/c/Skoda_Fabia_1.9_2005/p/car-parts/engine-parts/engine-parts1/car-gasket-seals/?366441360&1&6a7f09dd2b5c142c9797cb789cd8162629eb9f17&000173

This is the euro one, the one that's cheaper is the one hole and 3 hole so wouldn't work, do I get the euro one or go darkside or are they the same?

Is it all to do with the head thickness?

You might need to get the head skimmed first, then measure it and get the gasket to suite?

You should always get the head skimmed to guarantee that the new gasket bonds with it properly.

You should always get the head skimmed to guarantee that the new gasket bonds with it properly.

people that have put on here after having their head skimmed and having problems I would rather not risk it.

people that have put on here after having their head skimmed and having problems I would rather not risk it.

 

Could be they are using the wrong thickness of gasket?

Could be they are using the wrong thickness of gasket?

That is a possiblity

Performance company's have done tests after having heads skimmed and the results are quite a big loss in performance.

If the head is warped and twisted you would need it skimming to gaurtee the new gasket will seal. If the head is true and straight clean the head up really well and use a light levelling block on the block to clean that up as well.

The holes you count are the two smaller ones on the right so you need a two hole gasket.

That is indeed a Number 2 gasket, it is indicated by the two circular wholes. not the elongated ones.

 

IIRC you should never skim the heads on the 1.9TDI lump. 

 

according to the Skoda workshop manual, the head gasket thickness varies with gasket number, and the required thickness is determined at the factory regarding how far the piston crowns protrude from the deck of the head.

That is indeed a Number 2 gasket, it is indicated by the two circular wholes. not the elongated ones.

 

IIRC you should never skim the heads on the 1.9TDI lump. 

 

according to the Skoda workshop manual, the head gasket thickness varies with gasket number, and the required thickness is determined at the factory regarding how far the piston crowns protrude from the deck of the head.

 

All of which is true apart from the bit about never skimming the head, I used to be a manager at a machine shop and we pressure tested and skimmed literally hundreds of PD heads, many for the local VW dealer, with no ill effects at all, experience trumps IIRC I'm afraid.

 

When I say skim, I mean touching on and making a pass, it's the only way you can reliably tell if the head's straight or not and since the head isn't chambered it makes no difference at all to compression, the valve seats are sufficiently pocketed by VW to allow for this operation.

 

The difference between gasket thicknesses is 0.05mm by the way, so about 2 thou. If the head doesn't clean up after a single pass then you can make one more, if it still won't clean up then you need a new head casting. End of.