Shades of Grey

I replaced the intake gaskets recently, due to an external coolant leak in the back of the engine. I looked at a number of different replacement gaskets before deciding on the Mr. Gasket 5831 (more on that later).

I was surprised though when the gaskets were delivered and the pair had two different color gaskets. So I ordered another pair, and they were the same color as each other, but different than the first two. What?!

I called Mr. Gasket to figure it out, and they said they get the gasket material in sheets from different international suppliers. When the gaskets are cut they almost always end up in packages with similar color gaskets, but not this time.

So I matched up two grey ones and sent the others back.

Here they are installed. Notice the coolant passages without that L-shaped protrusion on some other gaskets. Also the bottom of the 5831 does not hang down into the lifter valley where it gets soaked in oil.

 Due to minor corrosion on the aluminum heads around the coolant passages I used a very thin bit of water pump RTV and some Gasgacinch around the intake ports—on the head side of the gasket only. The orange Perma-Seal should seal the manifold side of the gasket... I used the Right Stuff on the ends, rather than Ultra Black.


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