Graphite Head Gaskets

[houndman]

came across Expanded graphite and metal head gaskets, and wonder of
Subaru might be using something like them? Found some that said,
Expanded Graphite, and some saying Expanded metal with graphite, so
don't know if they are the same. If the open deck blocks are a cause
of a gasket problem, with cylinder sleeve movement wearing the gasket,
it sounds like ones with graphite might help the problem. Anyone hear
about these types of gasket?

VF

 

[Rick Courtright]

came across Expanded graphite and metal head gaskets, and wonder of
Subaru might be using something like them?

Hi,

I have no experience w/ these, but I do know many manufacturers have had
head gasket problems in the last 20 yrs or so, and the solution to many
of them HAS been a metallic gasket of some type.

An example would be the Toyota 22-R engine used in many of their small
pickups during the '80s and early '90s: they were notorious for blowing
factory headgaskets. My '86 ate its h/g at 69k miles (which seemed to be
about "average" mileage for failure at the time.) The "racer" types were
using copper aftermarket gaskets w/ good success, and, in '88, Toyota
switched to a factory metallic gasket. My '88 has it, and it seems to
have worked!

I'm not sure what the difference between the two types you described
might be other than that the "expanded graphite" is a fibrous gasket
like many OEMs, the "expanded metal w/ graphite" might be a sandwich
affair: two metal sheets w/ the fibrous material between them.

Maybe something like the latter would help the Subies that like to eat
h/g's.

Rick