Seattle 993

Hey all, I have a perfectly sound head gasket, 156k on the engine. It’s original. Just finishing up engine reseal, oil pan gasket, rod bearings, motor mounts, etc. and you know, while your in there and everything is exposed...

Would you you replace now or wait? By the way, rod bearings looked good coming out, turbo looks good (no play), engine in good shape.

opinions? And thanks in advance!

jerome951

Unless you've got the head off, I don't consider the head gasket a 'while you're in there' replacement. If no signs of issues then I suggest leaving it along. It's a pretty significant undertaking.

V2Rocket

You're so far in already you may as well just do it now.

MAGK944

Be warned, one wyit can lead to another and gets expensive real quick. If the head comes off you may as well refurbish it with new guides, stem seals and a skim.

Btw did you happen to perform a compression/leak-down test before you started ripping stuff apart? This usually dictates how far you need to go into the engine.

Seattle 993

Hey guys, the engine performed well. I actually just needed to replace the oil pan gasket (leaking at the right rear near the exhaust) and it was time for a front reseal, belts, rollers so by the time I had the intake off and the x-over removed to access the pan I decided to remove the turbo (which performs well and shows no sign of shaft play or oil leakage) to get to the AOS seals. And while I was in that far I replaced the speed/reference sensors. So, hence the question about the head gasket since I’m about to now button up the top side with new hoses, etc.

So, to answer your question MAG, the engine is healthy and really no reason to pull the head.

I think the wise thing to do is to button up the engine compartment until I need to pay attention to it. Car runs great, and to think that all of this started with an oil pan gasket!

Well, I learned a lot in the process and this really is an amazing car. I’ve had it for the last 27 of it’s 30 year life, and to be honest I’m actually more attached to this 88 944 turbo S than my 95 993. Must be that turbo rush - she’s still very fast (at least to me).

Black51

If you do pull the head, make sure to replace the head nuts and washers with new ones at least. Consider changing the head studs if they've been reused several times.

V2Rocket

If you do pull the head you MUST have it rebuilt at a machinist, just slapping a used head back on is for a rust belt winter beater that only needs to live another 3 months.

Just imo.

That said, you should consider changing the gasket simply due to age. Go read the 928 forum about 30 year old head gasket deterioration and how the heads corrode away.

Dan Martinic

I started failing emissions testing right around 160k miles. Tried new cat... whole lotta tune up... no change. Pulled the head, changed the HG--which had no obvious issues--and in the process cleaned a large buildup of hard black carbon on all pistons plus valves.

Passed emissions with flying colours: best numbers ever.

Seattle 993

Passed emissions with good numbers 2 years ago and in WA state a 30 year old car is exempt from emissions checks. So, not sure I’d have it checked again.

my thoughts were exactly that it’s a 30 year old headgasket...

maybe be the thing to do is to button it up and revisit with a plan after doing some reading as V2 suggested on the 928 board. And have a plan and parts ready - which I don’t at the moment. I drive maybe 3,000 a year so I have time to get a lot wiser with your help. You guys are way ahead of me and honestly this car has been amazingly robust - so it hasn’t needed any more than just the standard stuff until now with the oil pan gasket.

thank you guys for being so helpful.

schip43

Aww heck, I say if you button it back up now, after asking about it first ... it will fail shortly there after ... just cuz.

KVDR

I would replace the head gasket.

I did mine `while I was in there' two years ago and it looked original and not so healthy.

schip43

I don't think you'll get much for support, for not changing it?? It's the old while I'm in there bit, in full effect. And I'll add this to the "might as well pile."

https://www.lindseyracing.com/LR/Parts/COOLSTEAM.html