Reuse Metal Intake Gasket?

[wjayg]

I am doing my 2nd upper 60K in 2 years and I did not take apart the intake manifold and clean last time so I have all those gaskets left over and I am taking the intake apart and cleaning this time.

Is is ok to reuse the metal gaskets at the bottom of the intake manifold?

Seems alot to pay for 2 gaskets when I have all the others?

Thanks, Jay

 

[Rubix]

I'd take a look at them after you take it apart. If they're not beat up, and I can't imagine they would be, then i'd reuse them. What I always do before putting them back in, and I remember learning this from Nimz, is give'm a coat of black spray paint which will help seal them since the paint/outer layer that comes on them sometimes peels in places.

At the same time, vacuum leaks can be hard to track down on these cars. It's really a toss up in my opinion, if you have the money i'd go new if you wanna slap it back together and be done and cheap I'd just spray'm

 

[intimdatr]

ive reused mine several times. :theyareontome:

Just be careful when you remove them and it should okay.

 

[jelloslug]

If the black coating is not chipped off they will be fine.

 

[djsSHO]

The black paint on them was always chipped off for me. I red wheeled them to get most of it off and then used whatever rustoleum i had lying around and it sealed them good would let it dry till tacky and reassemble.

 

[Lorenr]

Preventing Vacuum Leaks

I used a dab of clear silicone and smeared it on both sides of the metal gasket. Worked real well.
The only thing traveling through the intake manifold is air and PCV residues. A person should seal it so that there is NO vacuum leak. Silicone will do the job and is easy to remove. Try to keep it out of the port though.

 

[93rev2sev]

As stated: If they're chipped, strip the rest of the paint off and spray some flat black paint or primer sealer on them.

I personally use high temp backyard grill paint. It's a Rustoleum, too, I think.

 

[rubydist]

copper head gasket sealer will work fine too, as something to spray on it to make sure it doesn't leak.

 

[Shovert]

Wish I had known this months ago. Since I had to rotate my intake and use spacers. I tried using 2 used sets. Needless to say they leaked. I cut me some out of gasket material since the price for 2 sets is expensive. That worked for me. Thumbs up for the responses. I would have tried the above items. Thanks Maurice