Head gasket replacement regular maintenance?

gr8rg8r

Petty Officer 3rd Class
Joined
Mar 26, 2004
Messages
94
I have never replaced a head gasket as normal maintenance, but some say you should. Is this necessary?
 

JB

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
Mar 25, 2001
Messages
45,907
Re: Head gasket replacement regular maintenance?

I don't know why anyone would say that, gr8rg8r (love that handle :) ). I have never heard that, but I suppose an unethical wrench might say it in search of an unearned buck.

I have only replaced head gaskets to solve a problem, usually loss of compression and/or water in the cylinders, or if I had the head off for some other reason.
 

WillyBWright

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Dec 29, 2003
Messages
8,200
Re: Head gasket replacement regular maintenance?

If you are in a highly brackish or salty body of water, I can see where occasional cleaning of the cooling passages would be advisable. Or if you troll alot, physical decarboning might be called for. Those would involve a new head gasket. But no, mere head gasket replacement isn't a general maintenance thing Greater Gator ( my son is N8theGR8 ).
 
Top