My Alfetta (with 2.5 engine from gtv6) started using water about about 3 weeks ago with no visible leaks. Began topping up water bottle every few days. Engine then got worse and started idling roughly and running poorly at low rpm. Noticed that removing lead from no 5 cylinder didn't create a substantial drop in rpm compared to other cylinders. Did compression test and no5 was low at 550kpa compared to other cylinders at ±1100kpa.
Decided to remove the LHS cylinder head this weekend. Found the headgasket badly corroded. This was a Victor Reinz gasket which I replaced about a year ago. Since then have covered 30 000 km. I use a 50/50 antifreeze/water mix.
Has anybody else experienced problems with Victor Reinz head gaskets?
What are the best gaskets to install?
Are gaskets installed dry or is a coating required?
Modern head gasket manufacurers say it is not necessary to re-torque the head - is it advisible to still check say after 1000km?
Any advise / recommendations appreciated.
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- Silver
- Posts: 13
- Joined: Tue Apr 28, 2009 9:19 pm
- Location: KZN - South Africa
12V v6 head gaskets
- Attachments
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- Victor Reinz gasket corroded
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- DSC01807.JPG (252.61 KiB) Viewed 2045 times
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- This piece had fallen off > water was leaking into No5 combustion chamber
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