Cylinder Head Gasket – 3 Hole

Most people will probably experience a head gasket failure at one point or another during vehicle ownership. The signs of a failed head gasket are easy to identify: Milky oil as the coolant mixes in, loss of performance, and sweet smelling, white smoke coming from your tailpipe. It usually happens when the engine is overheated or has a number of miles on it. Replace yours and get your engine running again.

The cylinder head gasket on your vehicle may be one of three thickness options, denoted by a tab on the front with stamped holes. You will either need a one, two, or three hole gasket. To find your gasket size you will need to remove your engine cover, and look down where the cylinder head attaches to the block. The tab will likely be dirty and “hidden” from plain view. For a general trick to find it, locate your fuel injectors, specifically the second from the passengers side, it should be visually below this area.

This replacement from VW/Audi will seal up your cylinder head perfectly. Because it is of factory thickness, sealing will be just like what was installed on your vehicle on the assembly line. An excellent way to be sure that your engine wills seal up after this moderately difficult replacement.

Most cylinder head fasteners found on European automobiles are a one time use or stretch bolt. To be sure that everything is tightened down properly, it is important to replace them to get the proper torque reading and ensure the longevity of your repair.

During removing and installation, you will probably run across some unique fasteners. Check the tool section of ECS Tuning’s website to be sure you have everything you need to remove the cylinder head.

Also, remember to have your cylinder head inspected at a machine shop to see if planing needs to be done to make it flat again. If it is even slightly warped, your new gasket will not seal properly.