Looking for opinions here. I have a JDM GE engine that I am re-building, as my original engine with 172K on it blew a head gasket on cyl#6, and it got pretty hot a few times before I figured out the problem. Rather than risk an annealed head and/or block problems such as compromised bores I elected to buy the second engine and go through it. My goal here is reliability as this car is my daily driver (A 1992 SC300 5-spd).

After reading a lot of your comments on head gasket choice, I chose to buy a stock OEM gasket from a Toyota dealership. My question is this. Is there any advantage to spraying both sides of this new gasket with one of those copper spray products to effect a better seal and/or heat transfer?

Or in a NA 2JZGE engine is this just over-kill?

I've been very careful in replacing lot's of parts in this new build, from water pump, cam belt tensioner, every lip seal and gasket, rod and main bearings (ACL race)-- to a new starter, clutch, head bolts, motor mounts, and the list goes on.

I want another 100K of just oil changes to look forward to.

Any comments and/or opinions welcome.

 

I've used copper spray before on the Mitsu 2.6 turbo. I never had a headgasket issue with that motor, but I can't say the copper spray helped for sure.

I'd be more concerned with the block deck and head surface being perfectly straight.

 

do not spray a NEW OEM head gasket!

The copper spray trick is for USED metal head gaskets that are being re-used and have lost their coating.

 

Werd, copper spray is bad news for a metal head gasket that still has the coating on it. Make sure you've got a clean surface and rock out.

 

Brand new headgaskets usually come with some kind of finish on both side to bond both surface so it'll help prevent leak.

Copper spray would be indeed be used for reusing headgasket but thats still a NO-NO... Its like reusing a condom.