Interesting. My short engine built for me by Quirt (I assume you mean Crawford) I am using multi-steel gaskets as supplied by him. Compression is 9:1. See how that goes.

Im using Cometec gaskets in my 2.2 EJ22T and they seem to be holding together at 1.6 bar, 20k later and a quite a bit of stick. Standard block not been relinered if that helps Andy?

2nd fan wise I wasn't sure how the wiring loom worked with the 2nd fan for the aircon (I.e if the aircon wasnt there would it run?) so simply wired it into the same part of the loom as the fan on the right.

Is anyone using an oil cooler out of interest on the 2.5's?

 

No but i will be.

 

Another point the Cometic gaskets are meant to be higher pressure.... So in theory was this the problem why they are failing?

 

Only thing i can think of

 

When did Subaru change from composite to metal gaskets?

Andy mentioned 22b gaskets... (are they composite?) can they still be got? Would the bore suit a 2.5?

 

EJ22 gaskets are not suitable, too small a bore size.

My EJ25 N/A gaskets seem to be very good so far. I am thinking that fuel definitely has an effect, and that perhaps our fuel gives a higher peak pressure for the same total work, compared to say 93 octane ((R+M)/2) US fuel.

WHen I did my head gaskets I re-surfaced the heads to make them as flat and smooth as the method allowed (silicone carbide paper stuck to flat stone surface).

Paul

 

Are you using the thin ones Paul ? 0.7mm IIRC

 

Late ninties for the imports and as of the 01 UK cars they came standard with the metal headgaskets TMK.

Prob wrong though

 

I am using the the 1.6mm gaskets as my block was machined for phase 1 deck height when new, and required further material off to match the height of both sides. I have machined the pistons back to allow a change from a 1.8mm Cometic gasket (uuuurgh) to the subaru 1.6mm version. No gasket problems so far, but I am yet to be convinced it will last indefinitely.

Paul

 

Paul, you saying you dont like the cometic gaskets??

 

Whats wrong with the standard Subaru Gasket?

 

What, other than a lot of people keep lunching them?

 

I am saying I, along with others have had bad experiences with the thicker cometic gaskets which weren't available in their 'HP' design. While Subaru OE ones have so far only been a problem on John's and now Steven's engine.

My money, my choice, feedback for everyone.

Paul

 

"While Subaru OE ones have so far only been a problem on John's and now Steven's engine."

Which is just about everyone we know of who has run an EJ257 with Phase II heads at 400+ BHP for anything like 8-10000 miles when they seem to pop.

 

True John. But I am hoping that there are factors that may make my engine last where yours did not. I know that various engines more similar to mine in termsl of block, have run on the engine dyno without problems. In the case of Adam's engine the block went before the gasket.

All the info I had to go on really, if I sat an pondered too long, I would never get the drive the bloody thing!

Paul

 

I am also running (shortly) with the Subaru 2.5 L gasket, but again its not on the EJ257 block so may not be relevant. Didnt RB5 Scott also do a head Gasket on his EJ257?

 

Before or after cracking a piston?

 

paul, I appreciate that... you know me i like to be aware of everybodys opinion on things..

I know mine are the new design, and obviously not a 2.5 gasket... but if your gaskets were the same design as mine, would you trust them?

Its just steven was using oem gaskets, but I was going to suggest cometic as his replacement.

David

 

I don't think there is much between the cometic and subaru designs now. My early cometic gasket was **** compared to the subaru one, which is now a 4 layer piece with forming on all 4 layers and not just the outer ones. The subaru gasket also uses a few different sealing compounds rather than just an overall coating of Viton (the black stuff) used on the Cometic. The design of the fire ring also allows for 2 'pinch rings' or whatever you call it to bit into the head/block.

RCMS wouldn't confirm there 'custom' metal gasket wasn't made by Cometic, but when I said I expressly would not purchase a Cometic product he got all cagey and was asking what spec etc. It was plainly obvious they were getting them from Cometic, and probably as a result of the work DW and Mark had done which everyone claims as their own (Axis, Crawford etc)!

I would be more inclined to check the state of the heads and block before blaming the gaskets, steel gaskets need a very smooth/flat finish to work properly.

Paul

 

yeah I know what you mean about the work done..

I should imagine the RCMS metal gaskets are considerably more than my cometic ones were.

 

I hope I don't suffer same problom like you JB and Steven.....

I even have the thin EJ257 gasket....and my power should be over 400 in the end..I hope.

Don't like to get same problems as you have sufferd so....

£1000.000.000 £ q is....What should one do to not suffer the same and still get good power. ...

* Of course det free...
* No more then maybe 1.3-1.4Bar @ the top but maybe ok with 1.5-1.6Midrange ?
* Don't run to high ign...but would be rated as to high ...+25deg@high rpm' and +20 midrange.....?

maybe get a better radiator...as car looks to get hot as soon as one stand still for a short time...

currenlty my car creeps to 1.7-1.8bar @ 4-5k rpm in 5/6th gear then drops to 0.7-0.9bar.

So far running very low timings as I'm pretty scared of blowing the gasket...but they are very low like from 10 to 20 @ 7000rpm's.

Of course if you would no the answer then you wouldn't have blown gaskets but would be nice to here yout thoughts ..

I have EJ257 with thin EJ257 gasket
MY99 stock euro heads
Did use new head bolts(subaru)
TD06 with a garret Gt wheel smaler then Paul's but bigger then FP Green.
Gredy R-Spl fmic
H&S DP, Blitz Nur spec R, Gruppe-s big bore heders&up-pipe
J&S safe guard (not connect to knock sensor so far though)

Jan

 

What is this Jan?

 

j&S safeguard should it be..

controls that one do not uses to much timming and lower it on each or all cylinders.

I have no knock control on my autronic pnpn ecu thats why I got it from JB

I think it works ok as safety gear and not for power, http://www.jandssafeguard.com


Jan

 

Jan,

I would guess that both John and Steven were running a bit more boost than that when their gaskets popped. I'm running your targets on a stock ej20 with around 22-24 degrees currently, no problems.

Aim for unstressed 400 hp, optimise the torque, and be happy...that's my plan

Richard

 

when boost control was on form, 1.6 bar from 3800 to 7500rpm!!

 

Well kind of sorted the boost creep.....atleast I thought...I did..

boost was fine on 1-4th gear with max 1.1bar ...but on 5th it now creeps @ high rpms (as creep normaly do) ..but now it hold ~0.8bar then creeps up to 1.5-1.65bar in a blink and...knocks....earlier boost problem I had no knock.....egt were down from 860max...to 790now.....but KL lightning up was no fun


Jan

 

Jan - has the wastegate orifice peen opened up/ported slightly?

Done that on a couple of TD06's now (albeit 2.0l cars) and boost creep has been fully eliminated!

Russell

 

Russel quite a bit, but my problem aren't as bad as Paul's was with the bigger wheel,it creept to 2.2bar for him



Jan

 

Big thread on NASIOC about which bit to port - the leading edge of the track into the wastegate tunnel is apparently the one to do rather than just increasing the diameter, but I would think a badly creeping turbo would need both.

 

Jan,

Johns right about which bit to port. Looking at your picture, I'm not surprised you have a boost creep problem.

It needs a lot more work on the area to the opening.

Mark.