[Vwdiesel] Headgasket--Solvents

[Val Christian]

> Use whatever you can find, and clean it well.
> I actually CAREFULLY, shaved the head with a single edge razor blade in one
> of those blade holders used to de-paint window glass. To get some of the
> nasty gasket crap off.

	Some rebuilders are going for "ground" heads, which look like a 
	heavy bead blasting.  This surface "bites" into the head
	gasket, and prevents burnishing of the gasket surface.  The
	burnishing is thought to contribute to head gasket failure,
	by creating a smoother, sliding surface.  

	Check with the recommendations of the provider of your head
	gasket.  THe manufacturers don't want to say that their gasket
	won't work on a certain surface, but in seminars, some are
	recommending head surfaces machined a certain way.

	Having said all that, every cylinder head gasket I've installed
	on a VW cyl head, has been with the smooth surface, or a lightly
	reground surface, with appears almost mirror smooth (if that's 
	possible with Al).  The one I'm doing this spring will be done 
	the "new" way.  

	Recent gasser cyl heads have been the "new" way, and without 
	near-term failures.  The gasket manufacturers claim that the rough
	surface prep is more critical in a diesel gasket.  One manufacturer
	rep indicated that the majority of gasket "failure" complaints
	they get are on diesels, which account for less than 6% of their
	sales.

> BE SURE to vacuum the bolt holes after cleaning to remove crud and solvent
> that fell in.
> I Highly recommend 2 or 3 rinses of the bolt holes with solvent,  and
> chasing the threads with an old bolt with a slot cut down the side like a
> tap.

	Also consider cutting an "X" in the tip of the bolt, to help
	loosen up stuff that collects in the bottom of bolt holes.

	Brake cleaner, and the straw that comes with the can, are
	great things.  Compressed air is really pretty handy as well.

> 
> I had crud in the bottom of a couple of the holes in mine that I had to
> scrape loose with a screwdriver. Then more rinsing with solvent till clear.
> 
> As my wife the nurse would say, "enema until clear"  :^)

	Scary.

	Val





> 
> Sandy
> -____
> 
> Much too much information...
> LOL!
> 
> -James
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Vwdiesel mailing list
> Vwdiesel at vwfans.com
> http://www.audifans.com/mailman/listinfo/vwdiesel
> --
> No virus found in this incoming message.
> Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
> Version: 7.0.300 / Virus Database: 266.3.0 - Release Date: 2/21/2005
> 
> --
> No virus found in this outgoing message.
> Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
> Version: 7.0.300 / Virus Database: 266.5.0 - Release Date: 2/25/2005
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Vwdiesel mailing list
> Vwdiesel at vwfans.com
> http://www.audifans.com/mailman/listinfo/vwdiesel
>