Porsche Enthusiasts Club Forum

Well I had a sniff test done on the 944 today as I had a sneaky suspicion the head gasket was leaking
And it came up positive,I'm not losing any oil or water and there is no mixing of the two but it is pressurising the system and I'm having to relieve the pressure every few days,so I'm hoping it's the gasket and nothing more serious.so this weekend I will be pulling the mx5 out of the garage and putting the 944 away for winter repairs. I have a few jobs to do while the engine is apart,

Head gasket
Front seals
Replace lower balance shaft cover as it's cracked around the p.a.s mounting
Belts
Idlers and tensoiners
Icv
That should keep me busy for a little while among other jobs I need to do,
Has anybody any experience with the victor reinz gasket kits ?? As I get good discount at ecp through work and they stock these kits
Any info would be great

Tel

Hi Tel,

I used a VR HG kit from Euro a few years ago when I was working on my 944S engine. The kit appeared to be of a high-quality, everything fitted nicely and to date I have not had any issues with any of the gaskets used. I am not sure if VR are an OEM supplier for Porsche, they may be..

Hope that helps.

I would also do the oil cooler gaskets while you have the engine stripped, I didn't..and regretted that choice bigtime! It is a difficult job to do when everything is put back together .

Oh, I also noticed that you needed a lower balance shaft cover with PAS bracket. I have one on my old S engine block. This should be exactly the same as an 8V 2.5 one as only the head was really different, I think the block mechanicals pretty much stayed the same. If you would like me to take it off, etc. please PM me.

I used the VR gasket kit from Jon at JMG. Rate is highly as Rhett says - excellent quality.

Thanks for the replies I think this is the gasket kit I will get and I shall do the oil cooler too. I've also been advised to change the water pump aswell
Rhett I'm definatley interested in the balance shaft cover I will pm you.

Thanks again

VR are OEM to Porsche as is Goetze.

I had a feeling they might have been...thanks for the confirmation..

If the test did not come up positive I would have said to check your bleed off hoses. On a previous car, despite two engine changes with another owner it kept on pressurising the coolant until the bleed off hose for the radiator was changed ; it was full of Radweld and it was one of the few hoses of the cooling system I did not change. Lesson learned .