I have to replace the head gasket on my engine and as I'm looking for parts corresponding to my car model I get many different results with prices varying widely from ~26€ to ~136€.
Since the repair is complicated I'd like to use the part that will last the longest even if I have to pay a bit more for it (if the correlation between price and additional longevity is non-negligeable).
I notice three differences amongst the dimmmmferent parts listed to fit my car model:
- Gasket Thickness
The main difference I notice among the parts is that one of them is 1.1mm thick, most are 1.2mm thick, one at least 1.3mm thick, and one is 1.4mm thick. The thickest one is the most expensive, which initially comforted me in the idea that it would be the one that would be most resistant and offer most longevity. I'm a noob and I quickly learned that I was wrong by making some research: According to the discussion here it seems that thicker head gaskets generally could be more failure prone. Now does this mean that the reverse is true, and that I should select a 1.1mm thick gasket to get maximum longevity? (note that the trick here is that I want maximum overall engine longevity without repairs after the gasket has been changed, not necessarily to maximize the gasket longevity at the cost of lower overall engine longevity, if the gasket type can somehow negatively impact that).
- Brand
Ridex, FA1, BGA, DR.MOTOR, STARK, ELWIS, ELRING, REINZ, PAYEN, GOETZE, SWAG, AJUSA, ET. ENGINETEAM, CORTECO, and DT SPARE PARTS are the different gasket brands of the different listed gaskets.
Which brand's gasket will have longest longevity?
- Price
At equal gasket thickness, will a more a expensive gasket translate into greater longevity irrespective of brand?
- Material
I hadn't noticed it but after Paulster2 pointed out this major difference and went back and looked at the parts listing:
Most don't list material type. Some list as gasket type "proofing gasket for metal surface" which may or may not imply the gasket itself is not made out of metal. The few that clearly state gasket material state either "steel" or "multilayer steel."
Is there another parameter differentiating them I should look for?
