I'm going to remove the valve cover on my '00 this weekend to check for a crack in the head, and also so I can replace the gasket since it's leaking.

If I find out the head is cracked I'll have to drive it to my friends house that has a garage when the replacement comes in. Can I install this Fel-Pro gasket and then re-use it when/if I replace the head?

http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/web...___#fragment-1

 

Rubber gaskets are reusable. Cork aren't.... so yes.

 

IF the head is not cracked, repalce the gasket as it will still leak,
IF the head is cracked just reuse the leaking one to drive it your friends house. and repalce it with the head. (unless its torn)

I woudln't put a new gasket on just to drive it and tear it apart. wouldn't want to break the bond and hope it holds again after doing all that work. But people reuse them, I wont.

 

To a point....if it has been on for years it will have assumed a certain shape and hardened. If it's been on a short while it can be reused..

 

Same could be said for just about anything that can be reused. I was assuming he was talking about his new gasket. But yeah... some common sense should apply... If the gasket is several years old and swollen or cracked, it would be time to replace it.

 

Thanks for the replies. I'm guessing that the original gasket will not be re-usable because it will probably get destroyed during removal of the cover. I guess I'll play it by ear.

 

Gaskets are cheap. I'd always replace one if I was doing anything that needed removal of a gasket.