Intake gaskets
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 8,899
Likes: 982
From: Whitby Ont.
Intake gaskets
I am looking for opinions I guess, had the heads and intake of my 02 C5, and am in the process of putting it back together, when I purchased the gasket kit, there were no intake gaskets, some say I don t have to replace them,some say I do. Any thoughts on this would be appreciated. They are a little flattened out, but look ok, but then again,I don t want to put it together,only to take it apart again to replace them.
Thanks Al
Thanks Al
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 4,549
Likes: 30
From: Shenandoah Valley Virginia
How many miles on the car ? Check the gaskets carefully, are they still elastic and able to conform to the mating surface, or are they hard from age and heat ? IMHO the cost of a new set of gaskets sure beats having to spend the labor and time to tear everything apart again if you have one that doesn't seal correctly.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 8,899
Likes: 982
From: Whitby Ont.
How many miles on the car ? Check the gaskets carefully, are they still elastic and able to conform to the mating surface, or are they hard from age and heat ? IMHO the cost of a new set of gaskets sure beats having to spend the labor and time to tear everything apart again if you have one that doesn't seal correctly.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,375
Likes: 426
I last had my intake manifold off at 77K and they still looked good. I let them ride. No problems for the last 25K miles.
I never changed the intake manifold gaskets on my PT Cruiser and I seemed to have to take that manifold off every time I opened the hood. 128K when I sold it.
I'd say if they look good they are good.
I never changed the intake manifold gaskets on my PT Cruiser and I seemed to have to take that manifold off every time I opened the hood. 128K when I sold it.
I'd say if they look good they are good.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 8,899
Likes: 982
From: Whitby Ont.
I last had my intake manifold off at 77K and they still looked good. I let them ride. No problems for the last 25K miles.
I never changed the intake manifold gaskets on my PT Cruiser and I seemed to have to take that manifold off every time I opened the hood. 128K when I sold it.
I'd say if they look good they are good.
I never changed the intake manifold gaskets on my PT Cruiser and I seemed to have to take that manifold off every time I opened the hood. 128K when I sold it.
I'd say if they look good they are good.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 114
Likes: 0
From: Kannapolis NC
I changed mine when I put in OPS relocation kit, but they were only ~$40 from Advance Auto and they included the foam pieces that go in between valley and intake. I counted it as cheap insurance w/70K miles on the car; but that said mine did not look too bad and could have probably been reused without a problem. Good luck either way
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 8,899
Likes: 982
From: Whitby Ont.
I changed mine when I put in OPS relocation kit, but they were only ~$40 from Advance Auto and they included the foam pieces that go in between valley and intake. I counted it as cheap insurance w/70K miles on the car; but that said mine did not look too bad and could have probably been reused without a problem. Good luck either way
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 5,955
Likes: 161
From: PNW
The factory Service Manual says to replace them. You can get a set of Fel-Pro gaskets (p/n MS92438) for about $20 at AutoZone, and they are as good as the OEMs. For $20 I wouldn't chance re-using the original intake gaskets.
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Race Director
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 13,421
Likes: 8
From: Lake Mary Florida
Absolutely, FSM says not to reuse them.
And yes you should replace both pieces of foam.
Once they are torqued down they compress, here's an example of why you should replace them (the blue one is the new one):
And yes you should replace both pieces of foam.
Once they are torqued down they compress, here's an example of why you should replace them (the blue one is the new one):
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 5,955
Likes: 161
From: PNW
About the foam pieces. There's a TSB about sealing around the knock sensor rubber plugs with RTV to keep water out of them, and in that TSB they say to remove the foam so that it doesn't trap water if the engine is washed. When I did my intake manifold, I removed the rear foam piece, and cut the front one down to 1/2 the width just to keep crud from getting under the front of the intake. With the rear foam piece removed, it allows any water to drain off the valley cover.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 13,421
Likes: 8
From: Lake Mary Florida
I only saw where it required a bead of sealant three-quarters around the plug. Curlee pointed that out to me. We discussed why the bulletin only addressed the rear plug and not the forward plug, and decided what the heck do them both.
Here's a picture afterwards:
Here's a picture afterwards:
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 8,899
Likes: 982
From: Whitby Ont.
Lots of good advice, I think I will be replacing them, I don t want to take it apart again for something silly that could have been avoided. Whats another and 180 bucks anyways now.
thanks for all the opinions
Al
thanks for all the opinions
Al