Doing a head gasket job this weekend on my 03 ex, curious as to what brand of head gasket is quality product. Any help is very much appreciated.

I use factory parts, no problems here.

My 03 1.7 is no race car, but id like to put the strongest head gasket out there!

Is there a Heavy Duty gasket brand and what brands should we avoid??

thanks

stick with oem honda parts

Ya know... I JUST bought a FelPro PermaTorque MLS gasket for my 1995 D15Z1 about a half hour ago. (I could throw up a pic but you all know what it looks like.) Bought it for $30, new... Put it in my truck, came home, got on Net.. saw this thread.

Freaky.

*I decided to go woth that one because it was, in fact, a Multi-Layer Steel gasket.

I saw a Cometic gasket on EBay at also said Multi-Layer Steel, but it was like $65 and.. if it is Multi-Layer Steel then it's good enough for me. And should be a ONE TIME JOB on my engine...........

Amd heard good things about Victor Reinz gaskets...

Are you familiar with Neons at all?
Reinz was the OE supplier for those head gaskets, roughly 1995~00.

Google 'neon head gasket problems'

Not only did I not know that, but it casts doubt on what I learned from a shadetree mechanic that worked on my truck.

This is the gasket I bought, I actually got mine $5 cheaper with a coupon

It was indicated to me a Multi-Layer Steel gasket, with its MLS designation; Therefore, I bought it. I almost went with a Cometic MLS one, but, the main feature I sought was.. not to be redundant, but, MLS. FelPro PermaTorque MLS.

It has been said that is my mating surfaces are exactly straight and very clean and torque is perfect that it will work wonderfully.

New bolts, yes?

Yours uses standard bolts, not TTY bolts. Reuse your head bolts unless they are corroded or something super unusual.

On the newer engines that use the TTY type, Honda would print measurement specs to determine if they need to be replaced or can be reused.

If you can find TTY bolts for your engine, they would go well with MLS gasket.

HTH

I personally would have spent the extra $8 for Honda OEM parts, but that's just me.

Everything you tell me is something useful. I would like to sponsor you for God mode.

More updates on the other thread. Today was a good day.

Factory oem honda is the only way to go!

Is it Multi-Layer Steel?

Nothing wrong with OEM, but sometimes parts are made to correct shortcomings in OEM design. My Blazer's fuel injectors are a case-in-point of that. Nobody replaces an S-10 spider injector assembly with OEM...

You'll get to find out when you get your head removed!

IIRC I think your 95 and earlier is composite.

I agree with ezone on the gasket. As a previous owner of a neon I know all too well what he is talking about when he addresses the Victor Reinz gasket problem. Instead of dealing with it anymore I Bought a 2012 Civic.