Head Gasket

[SideHogger]

Talked with a friend of mine with sidewinder and he told me to look out for your head gasket because they are starting to fail. Anyone else heard of this? Hate to think 4 yr old sled needs one already!

 

[Big_Phil]

Talked with a friend of mine with sidewinder and he told me to look out for your head gasket because they are starting to fail. Anyone else heard of this? Hate to think 4 yr old sled needs one already![/QUOTE

Sounds like your friend doesn't know what he is talking about. It would be next to impossible to blow the headgasket on a stock machine, maybe a severe overhead that warps the head.

 

[TPAY243]

Please explain SideHogger I would like to hear the rest of the story.

 

[SideHogger]

Supposedly, the head gaskets are not holding up. Falling apart when you remove your head.

 

[NYTurbo]

Supposedly, the head gaskets are not holding up. Falling apart when you remove your head.

Fake news

 

[yamamarc]

I know a tonne of guys that ride 998's tuned and stock with over 10000++kms and yet to hear of a head gasket issue!!
Not saying it doesn't happen but it's not COMMON at all!!!

 

[SAB1]

Geeze. Can we just ride these dam sleds! So many issues pop up here and honestly I got none. Just ride the bitch!

 

[no1b4me]

Fake news

This must have been reported on
CNN.... or MSNBC.....

 

[Crossfire12]

Leave the head alone , don’t touch it just ride, The more you monkey the more you can.

 

[TPAY243]

Why was the head removed you have limited info here. Was the head gasket blown before ya removed the head ??? The head gasket is usually junk after you remove the head. This seems like a very fishy story and I'm not bitting.

 

[1nc 2000]

Did the "friend of mine" in the original post have a waterpump failure or blown heat exchanger coolant hose before head gasket?

 

[SideHogger]

Geeees.....didnt mean to start anything here. My friend was losing coolant and found it was head gasket leaking. The other guy doing a pro-mod build. Since TPAY243 has taken a head off before, its obvious you can't reuse head gasket and maybe I misunderstood him and thats what he was implying that they just fall apart when head removed. Again, sorry to start something that isnt a problem but just trying to keep sled as reliable as an Apex! lol

 

[TPAY243]

Thanks for all the helpful information.

 

[Turboflash]

Also should not re-use head bolts. They are torque-to-yield just like automotive ones. Each time head is removed, should install new head bolts. Better yet, install ARP head studs for more clamp force, especially with 17+ lbs of boost.
BTW - I wish I had taken pics but when I replaced my head (warranty) I could tell by looking at the sealing lines that the head had "moved around" a little. The sealing lines (gasket lines on aluminum head and block) in some places showed evidence of minor breech. Once I installed the ARP head studs, the lines were very exact and very clear all the way around the head telling me the head was no longer "moving around." These 998s should not "use" coolant. If anyone has to top off their coolant tank periodically, and you can't find an external leak anywhere, guess where it's going? Once I installed ARP head studs, I never have to add any coolant ever.

 

[TPAY243]

So how many PSI is the stock head gasket designed to hold. If you up your boost from stock PSI you shouldn't really be saying there is a problem with stock components. On the other hand if the head gasket is leaking with stock boost there may be a problem.