Head gasket failure

[JimCT]

After replacing mine this weekend I wonder what is the usual cause of failure? This one burned through between #1 and #2 cylinders.

[scott]

i had one on my spitfire go between 3 & 4. i ran it low on coolant and it way over heated. i don't why on a 1 & 2 burn thru. i figure 3 & 4 went cuz they being furthest from the rad & fan got the hottest

[JimCT]

No overheat

This engine barely runs warm, so no over heating problem

[J.McKelvey]

I had a copper type head gasket blow on me between 3 & 4. When I took the head off it looked like it started to go slowly then all of a sudden went. I never figured out what happened but I never put a copper one on again and I never had trouble since.

[JimCT]

COmposite

This wasn't copper, a composite gasket RN put on about 11 years ago when they installed the hardened head.

[J.McKelvey]

what compression is your head? 7:1 or 8:1? 11 years doesn't sound to short of a life span for a head gasket, but it blowing between 1 & 2 isn't as common as between 3 & 4.

[JimCT]

Compression

8:1

[J.McKelvey]

Mine is a 9:1. Sometimes the head bolts need to be re-torqued because overtime the headgasket compresses. Because of this leaks can start between cylinders and slowly blow.

Usually over heating causes the gasket to let go between all of a sudden and usually leaks alot of coolent.

[junkyddog11]

have the head cheacked for cracks. Often they are and it is right were the gasket fails.