M42club.com - Home of the BMW E30/E36 318i/iS

DISCUSSION => Engine + Driveline => Topic started by: ZeroG on December 03, 2006, 03:53:15 PM

Title: Some Gasket Questions...
Post by: ZeroG on December 03, 2006, 03:53:15 PM
Looks like that damn profile gasket is leaking again...  I know that his is known to be a common probpem with this motor.

Does anyone know of a company that makes a better gasket then the OEM on?  I had the complete HG changed out a couple of years, back so I know I got the revised version of the gasket, and the damn thing still failed.

This is a track car so it sees really high temps..

Anybody got any thoughts?

Has anyone used the VAC Motorsports 5 layer HG?  Anybody ever use a HG in copper?
Title: Some Gasket Questions...
Post by: Febi Guibo on December 04, 2006, 08:06:07 PM
might be worth a call:
http://www.headgasket.com/gaskets.html
Title: The hot tip!
Post by: D. Clay on December 04, 2006, 09:18:08 PM
Quote from: ZeroG;14887
This is a track car so it sees really high temps.
Hope they're not too high as the water pump and thermostat housing are in that neighborhood.
My solution is lots of Hylomar brand gasket sealer or Permatex Copper.
One problem area is where the inner cover mates to the cylinder head. Here's a "hot tip" as they say at the stock car track:
http://www.m42club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1265
Title: Some Gasket Questions...
Post by: ZeroG on December 04, 2006, 09:19:14 PM
Quote from: Febi Guibo;14978
might be worth a call:
http://www.headgasket.com/gaskets.html


Interesting..  I was hoping there was some miracle fix or something....
Title: Here are some pics...
Post by: ZeroG on December 04, 2006, 10:03:42 PM
(http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/ZeroG21/IMG_0030-1.jpg)

(http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/ZeroG21/IMG_0031.jpg)

(http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/ZeroG21/IMG_0032.jpg)

(http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/ZeroG21/IMG_0033.jpg)

(http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/ZeroG21/IMG_0034.jpg)

(http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/ZeroG21/IMG_0035.jpg)

(http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/ZeroG21/IMG_0036.jpg)

(http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/ZeroG21/IMG_0037.jpg)

(http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/ZeroG21/IMG_0039.jpg)
Title: Some Gasket Questions...
Post by: silverblades181 on December 05, 2006, 12:33:41 AM
You didn't take any pics of the gasket itself. I thought that when you had a profile gasket failure, the coolant flushed out completly. Btw, off topic...how do you like the X-Brace and was it hard to fit?
Title: Some Gasket Questions...
Post by: D. Clay on December 05, 2006, 12:59:40 AM
I am curious as to the sump behind the cross member and the sway bar in front of the rack.
What engine configuration are you running?
I would suggest a tear down. I don't think two seasons on a track car without the entire motor being gone through justifies calling it a gasket failure. Even a Formula Ford engine is only good for a season. The only motor that I know of running more than that is a Mazda Rotary.
Title: Some Gasket Questions...
Post by: ZeroG on December 05, 2006, 10:55:51 PM
Quote from: D. Clay;15006
I am curious as to the sump behind the cross member and the sway bar in front of the rack.
What engine configuration are you running?
I would suggest a tear down. I don't think two seasons on a track car without the entire motor being gone through justifies calling it a gasket failure. Even a Formula Ford engine is only good for a season. The only motor that I know of running more than that is a Mazda Rotary.


Not quite sure what you are referring to reguarding the sump.  I think it is just the Power Stearing Tie Rod stuff.  As for the sway they're RD Sport.

Quote from: silverblades181;14998
You didn't take any pics of the gasket itself. I thought that when you had a profile gasket failure, the coolant flushed out completly. Btw, off topic...how do you like the X-Brace and was it hard to fit?


Well lucky for me it only seems to leak at WOT.  Its probably that boost that does it.  I leave the car parked in the garage 24x7 and there is never even a drop of coolant on the ground.  It has to be only when the car is driving which is interesting.  

I am runing around 11 PSI W/ 10:1 Compression.  Supercharger is a DASC (Modified).  :D

I am affraid to track the car anymore as I might get a complete failure and dump Ethylene Glycol all over the track.

The X-Brace was easy.  I probably should have mentioned that the car is an E36 318 so all I had to install wsa the nut serts.
Title: My bad!
Post by: D. Clay on December 06, 2006, 10:52:25 AM
Quote from: ZeroG;15070
Not quite sure what you are referring to reguarding the sump.
I am runing around 11 PSI W/ 10:1 Compression.  I probably should have mentioned that the car is an E36 318 so all I had to install was the nut serts.
I guess I just assumed it was an E30 as most of the cars here are E30's. The name should give it away. It's M42Club not E30-M42Club.
The turbo and two years on the same gasket are pretty good for a track car.