[MCL968]

Just wondering if the group thinks that replacing the head gasket should be done as part of normal maintenance for a car with 108K.



My cab is completely stock, but I will eventually be adding a chip and doing some exhaust work. I may be having the variocam pads done soon, and I was considering having the gasket done at the same time.



Any suggestions? Car runs great, no leaks, etc.



Thanks,



Matt

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[flash]

these head gaskets are well known for deteriorating over time. odds are it's not in great shape, if it's the original one. if you're having the variocam pads done, then you're halfway there to doing a head gasket. while the head is off, do yourself a favor and freshen up the head. you'll be glad you did, and will be care free for likely as long as we have gasoline.

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[MCL968]

Flash,



By freshen you mean grind the valves, replace seals and guides, etc?

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[flash]

yup - pretty much guaranteed that if it hasn't been done yet, you're losing quite a bit of power

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[JWahlsten]

I just did mine with 120k and can say without a doubt it was toast... Look for yourself.

[sharedmedia=core:attachments:13785]

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[MCL968]

Thanks, I will get it on the schedule. I plan to take a long trip this summer and a blown headgasket is not on the travel agenda.



Now, can you put organs on the classified section here?

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[flash]

yes - hammonds usually sell best, but yamaha does well too



ba dum bum

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[MCL968]

I remember moving B3's with Leslie speakers back in the day. Not a fan. Solid state components have improved a few things.

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[flash]

lol - don't say that out loud to any B3 player. while i hate dealing with them on stage, there is nothing like the sound of a 147. they've gotten close, but it still misses something somehow.



back on topic - i'm surprised that this has not been a more frequent question. i'm guessing it is not going to be long before we start seeing a lot of head gaskets popping. i know for sure that engines with 100k on them and no head work are due for valve jobs. the engines may still run, but 10% down on compression is 10% down on power, and carbon build up making false compression readings doesn't really help.

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[Ernie]

So 100k is the benchmark for head work and valve jobs? Time to add that to the old 968 maintainence schedule!

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[flash]

well..........



100k is the "benchmark" for taking a look at things. variocam pads will likely be needed. an inspection will tell you.



similarly, a compression and leak down test will tell you the condition of the rings and valves.



so, when you do the variocam inspection, if you also do the other tests, you can decide where to go from there

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[MCL968]

Well, she's going in on Thursday for variocam pads, chain, head gasket, valve seals and freshening for the head. Timing belts are just at a year old, change them at the same time or run them for a couple more years?

 

Any thoughts on cleaning the injectors while they are off? Car runs great, so I don't think that there's an issue with them.

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[Bulti]

It's quite easy to remove them yourself afterwards. Having them cleaned up shouldn't be expensive either. About 20 or 30 USD a piece I guess... I never hurts to have them checked out anyway. Fwiw, mine where as good as new (what clogging is concerned) after 20+ years and 140000 km. It was necessary to change some of the plastic tips that protect the needles though. One of them was eaten by the car already - the pieces were lying around in the manifold.

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[flash]

i have never seen a set of injectors with that much mileage on them that did not benefit from cleaning.  i would love to see the before and after flow tests on those.  it would be a first.

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[az968]

Had my 968's annual service done last week, what my mechanic calls replacing almost new oil with newer oil (Mobil 1 15w50).  My car has about 85k miles on it. Had the variocam pads replaced at the same time; they weren't too bad, he thought maybe another 20k left on them but replaced them anyway.  I felt 20+ year old plastic parts were probably getting to the point where the damage caused by breaking wasn't worth the risk, also limit streatching of the cam chain.  Leak down showed #4 at 7%, #1 - 3 were in the 3-6% range, so the head gasket should be good for a while longer. Had to replace one injector tip that was starting to look like it could go, few minor other gaskets, etc.

 

Also stuck in a RSBarn Stage 1 chip and K&N air filter (still need to do the airbox mod).  Finally got the D1R lower suspension brace installed (also new castor blocks) and aligned to the "modest improvement" specs.

 

Next up is the D1R shock tower and firewall braces that have been sitting the garage for far too long, then new tires.

 

Drives like a new car and should be even better in another month!

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[Bulti]

i have never seen a set of injectors with that much mileage on them that did not benefit from cleaning.  i would love to see the before and after flow tests on those.  it would be a first.

I have to admit: I am not sure if the PO had the injectors cleaned before (bought the car with 90000 km). From the looks of it, they had never been removed (they certainly did not put new o-rings or tips on them). The report I got was very basic to say the least. It just mentions "Volume Test 1" for injectors 1-4: 72 - 72 - 72 - 73 (cc per minute??) and a symbol for the spray image: /\ (for all 4) . The employee told me it wasn't necessary to have them cleaned, as they performed still very well.


I also can't notice any difference in how the engine performs either.


It was probably a good idea to ask for more info, but I had really no idea what to expect from such a test report.

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