Head Gasket help. - IDI Engine - VWDiesel.net The IDI, TDI, and mTDI source.

• Head Gasket help. by Barry W on 25 Jan, 2007 21:49
• I need to know which head gasket is the best to buy for a '91 1.6TD. I also need to know which one I need, a 2 hole or 3?
  
  Thanks!
• #1 by Vincent Waldon on 25 Jan, 2007 22:05
• Hi Barry.... the correct gasket to use is determined by measuring the deck height of your actual engine:
  
  http://ep0niks.ctech.ca/vw/eva2/GE01/ch6.2.3.html
• #2 by Barry W on 26 Jan, 2007 22:55
• So I need a dial gauge..... hmmmm.....
• #3 by Vincent Waldon on 26 Jan, 2007 23:03
• Princess Auto has very cheap dial gauges...
  
  Or, jig up the one you use to set timing... or get one so that you can set the timing as well.
  
  Or, cheat and use the 3-notch gasket.  Lots of "mechanics" take that shortcut... what you lose is the potential for not as much compression than you might have had... but overall it's probably a small thing !!
  
  
  Vince
• #4 by burn_your_money on 27 Jan, 2007 04:29
• or just look at the gasket you have now and get the same one. There are single hole gaskets as well
• #5 by Vincent Waldon on 27 Jan, 2007 14:46
• Yup, assuming the guy who did the engine last took the time to measure... :wink:
• #6 by Barry W on 27 Jan, 2007 16:15
• Sounds good. Thanks.
• #7 by Barry W on 23 Mar, 2007 20:41
• Where am I looking on the gasket to determine if its a 1, 2 or 3 hole gasket?
• #8 by jtanguay on 24 Mar, 2007 04:58
• Quote from: "Barry W"

  Where am I looking on the gasket to determine if its a 1, 2 or 3 hole gasket?

  
  
  it will actually have holes on the front of the gasket... easily visible with the gasket installed!  iirc it's near the IP on the front.
  
  don't care how you measure it, just make sure you take your time doing it.. and do it right!  taking the 3 hole gasket trick is dirty... GIT ER DONE!
• #9 by burn_your_money on 24 Mar, 2007 05:08
• See the 3 notches beside the oil passage?
  
  
  
  And here is a complete shot so you know where you are looking
  
  
• #10 by Barry W on 24 Mar, 2007 18:46
• Oh great thanks!  Do I need to know this even if i'm gonna try the metal gasket from the 1.9?
• #11 by jimfoo on 25 Mar, 2007 07:50
• Yes, the 1.9 has different thicknesses too. Mine actually had holes that went through rather than notches though.
• #12 by burn_your_money on 25 Mar, 2007 10:06
• that's true, some have holes and some have notches
• #13 by Barry W on 25 Mar, 2007 22:02
• Great info. Thanks guys!