jstand22

Here's some pics of the head gasket job I'm doing. As you can see the gasket failed in 2 places, on cylinders 1 & 4. If you look at the pictures of the block you can see that 1 & 4 look as if they've been steam cleaned while 2 & 3 have lots of carbon deposits. That gasket is a mess, I don't know when it was replaced but I'm pretty sure it's not the original (unless Porsche used Victor Reinz from the factory). I was impressed with the cylinder walls, as they are in awesome condition (block & head have 175k miles!)

I do need some advice...the head is being brought to a shop for the usual blown head gasket service (flat check, maybe surface grind, cleaning, pressure testing, and valve stem seal replacement.) However I'm having a very tough time cleaning the gasket surface of the block, what works best for you guys?

Van

Usually a "failed" head gasket is one where the metal crush ring around the cylinder burns out in a spot, thus creating an area for the combustion gasses and coolant to mix.

I don't think I see that on your gasket. Your gasket just looks "old" where the fiberous part has started to crumble (maybe the car was run low on coolant for a while?)

I clean the head and block gasket surfaces with a brand new, sharp razor blade.

Also, if you head isn't flat, have it fly cut - not "surface ground" - that's a process for cast iron heads.

jstand22

if you look at the metal crush rings on 1 & 4 you can see the burn marks, and looking at it in person it definitely failed. The metal crush rings are slightly damage where the burn marks.

FRporscheman

In the past I've used razor blades, then I tried razors and screwdrivers, then I switched to 320 grit sandpaper. But recently I bought an abrasive spongy pad for my die grinder and that thing is waaaaay fast and easy. If you don't have a die grinder a cordless drill works just as well. But still use a dull screwdriver or something to pick off the larger chunks of gasket first.

In the 2nd pic you can see the ring cracked where there is black soot.