ericobrave Posted April 18, 2016 Share Posted April 18, 2016 OK - I know I'm stupid but I have just fitted a new Elring head gasket and have used a three hole and the original was a two hole, how much of a problem is this, I understand it is 0.1mm thicker -the engine has done 90,000 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snagger Posted April 18, 2016 Share Posted April 18, 2016 It will reduce the compression a tiny bit, but will have next to no effect. I doubt you'd notice it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monkie Posted April 18, 2016 Share Posted April 18, 2016 Its to do with piston protrusion. Its measured on all 4 pistons relative to the block then the greatest amount of protrusion is used to determin which thickness head gasket to get. I don't know how much risk there is of the piston hitting something if you use the wrong gasket. Have you ran the engine yet? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ericobrave Posted April 18, 2016 Author Share Posted April 18, 2016 Thanks, that's just what I was hoping to hear !! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monkie Posted April 18, 2016 Share Posted April 18, 2016 Well, I'm sure someone will know for certain and chip in. I wouldn't start it up untill someone has clarified if you will be okay with the different gasket. I don't know how fine the clearance is - best to play it safe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qwakers Posted April 18, 2016 Share Posted April 18, 2016 a three hole gives more clearance than a 2 hole so it won't cause any problems. you might loose 1-2bhp so not a lot to worry about lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snagger Posted April 19, 2016 Share Posted April 19, 2016 Monkie, don't scare people if you don't know the answer. Eric, the three hole gasket is the most commonly used and is a fraction thicker than the two hole, so you won't break anything. As I said, the compression will be down a tiny bit, but it should have no noticeable effect. Oddly, the thickest gasket has no holes. One hole gaskets are the thinnest and are very rarely used. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les Henson Posted April 19, 2016 Share Posted April 19, 2016 The difference in thickness is 1/10th mm. You will not notice any difference in performance. Les. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ericobrave Posted April 19, 2016 Author Share Posted April 19, 2016 Thanks for your responses - I can relax again and sleep soundly - I need my full strength to tighten the head bolts ! I am fitting new ones by the way ! Thanks again - great forum 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snagger Posted April 20, 2016 Share Posted April 20, 2016 Thanks for your responses - I can relax again and sleep soundly - I need my full strength to tighten the head bolts ! I am fitting new ones by the way ! Thanks again - great forum Please tell me you used the correct initial torque and then the prescribed angle tightening, and that you made sure the bolt holes were free of debris and liquid (coolant and oil) first! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ericobrave Posted April 20, 2016 Author Share Posted April 20, 2016 Yes - but thanks for your concern- appreciated ! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snagger Posted April 20, 2016 Share Posted April 20, 2016 Good. I had a horrible vision of a big person pulling for all their worth with a breaker bar! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ericobrave Posted April 20, 2016 Author Share Posted April 20, 2016 I'm 5'6" weigh 10 stone and am 73 so when I remove the front crank nut I need to use an 8 foot scaffold pole ! btw - when I first did that 20 years ago I had removed the engine first so now always loosen this before lifting the engine - this was before the forum was available to me of course 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
western Posted April 20, 2016 Share Posted April 20, 2016 the tdi head gasket thickness list is in the tech archive, just search for it to see the part numbers & thickness range, glad you got it all sorted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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