Intake manifold gasket material type question
 

Hey guys, first time posting to a forum like this in general so sorry for possibly breaking any bylaws.

I got kinda greased by mahale with their intake manifold gasket. I bought a "premium" one off rock auto for 40 cad that looks like the steel one, but it is in fact a plastic one... just metallic gray.... when the steel one is literally just ten dollars more.

To get it returned will cost 20 dollars shipping, and I could spend the 60-70 cad total for the next one and wait another week or two if I need to but... it hurts...

So my question is, are the plastic ones really all that bad? All I see are people wanting to send them to the center of the earth and I'm just wondering if they are really so terrible. If yes I'll probably bite the bullet but I'd rather not.

Well, I installed plastic ones on my first go-around doing the intake job on my 04. They lasted about 5 years before they failed... With the last job, I used the upgraded metal ones, but that was only a few months back so I can't say how long it'll hold up lol. HOPEFULLY much longer than the plastic ones did...

Personally, I would bite the bullet and go for the full metal ones. It's a lot of work in my opinion that you could put off doing in an inconvenient time later on down the road when the plastic ones DO fail again, just by spending the extra money now and installing the metal ones, and give yourself the peace of mind.


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frig sakes well I would say that enough of a push for me to do the right thing. I appreciate the pictures, gotta follow the F-around rule.

I wish you no vacuum leaks and clear injectors in your years to come.

I agree. For a job with a lot of labor like this one, I don’t want to go back in anytime soon. In addition, there is alway a chance of more serious damage once the coolant gets into the oil. I vote the proper Fel Pro gaskets.


George

My plastic one failed after about 5 years too. I did mine last January with the metal ones and they have lasted at least 13 months. Doing that job sucked so I am glad that i went with the good ones.


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When you do start the job pay particular attention to the RTV placement guidelines and the torque sequencing and force.

George

You need a good torque wrench that will do inch pounds. I bought one from harbor freight and it did not work at all. I rented one from Autozone instead.

I'm starting this job on my Blazer as well. I just bought one of those harbor freight 1/4" torque wrenches, too, so hope that it works. Did you just get a bad one? I'm also hopeful their pulley removal tool works on my power steering pulley.

Question related to starting this job: Does anyone recommend draining the coolant first, or can that be done after the job is complete? Just don't want to be spilling antifreeze all over the area I'm working if it's easier to drain it in advance.

Thanks, and good luck to you on your replacement.

Definitely drain it first. You'll make a mess if you don't.

Agreed. It'll also spill into the valley between the heads and into the crankcase. Granted, it's good practice to change the oil after the intake job anyway for that reason, the less water/antifreeze you can introduce into the crankcase the better...