Head Gasket.-

[Sea Rider]

Was wondering if fresh head gaskets must be flexible, if so how much flexible. Asking this due to having changed a new OEM gasket which seemed bit stiff and in just 100 run hours can see a thin white line salt formations around the gasket contour.

Before changing gasket, both metal mating surfaces were cleaned and polished to smooth touch perfection. Nope, head can't be retorqued higher, has passed already what manufacturer recommends and won't like pulling threads off or breaking bolts.

OEM gaskets comes with a 2 sided glued coat. Is it possible to just torque a new & fresh non glued gasket to specs and expect to seal well ? If not, which gluing product should be used ?

Happy Boating

 

[RobertThoreson]

I may be reading that wrong, but if you went past the factory torque specs, that could have warped the head and caused the problem

 

[Sea Rider]

Mission impossible, it's only 10 % more, the only way to warp a head is when engine has had a extreme overheat due to water intake blockage when at full hammer down. That's from experience as I have overheated my previos OB twice.

This head gasket issue is a recurrent Tohatsu special, have seen same thin salt formations on many OB's when gasket is not retorqued soon after break in period ends. Sad to say but nobody retorques gaskets, they assume that are automobiles in which you need to retorque nothing..

Happy Boating