Got the genuine subaru head gasket for the ea82 engine. Does that gasket get crushed when you torque that down?  Reason I ask, was thinking about removing the head after I already installed the new gasket and doing some work to try and flatten that head surface more.  Was wondering if that gasket would still be good to use or if I would need a brand new one.

All gaskets crush when torqued down unless they're made from steel.

 

I'm guessing you'll need new ones mate.

 if you haven't run it, it may be ok.

 

It all depends on if gasket material sticks to the head/deck when you take it off. 

 

If it come off clean, you could reuse.

 

If it peels yers and bits of graphite material off, then you would be better off to get new gaskets.

 

Unless you are needing to mill the head, I would leave it.  Teh composite gaskets are good at sealing surface imperfections.

 

Torque that sucka down, and run it.

 

I take my EA heads to 57 ft/lbs.  27-43-57 in sequence.

Ok, probably just leave it then.  A little worried because after reading more, I didn't remove the fire ring,  so there is a bit of a gouge in a few places.

That is a different reason. I never tried not resurfacing one. It might work for a while. But I'm not going to test it.

Personal preference. If you don’t mind doing it again and have lots of free time then go for it. Has a chance of making it awhile.

 

For my time id just buy another gasket. Hours of my time possibly dealing with it later isn’t worth $30 measiky dollars or whatever it is.

 

But I get that sometimes you want to try it, I do it sometimes too....I usually end up regretting the wasted time when I do. Haha

I use fel-pro permatorque head gaskets. No re-torque needed. I won't use a gasket twice after it's been torqued down, it's asking for leaks, but may not leak at all just a roll of dice. I'd make sure head is completely flat and then new head gaskets

I use fel-pro permatorque head gaskets. No re-torque needed. I won't use a gasket twice after it's been torqued down, it's asking for leaks, but may not leak at all just a roll of dice. I'd make sure head is completely flat and then new head gaskets

oh right the FSM calls for a retorque. Maybe this suggests the compressing is a nonissue but rather the gasket being compromised by pulling apart/separating as Gloyale described....

 

Oddly the 6 cylinders don’t call for a retorque eventhogh the block and heads and bolts are all the same, they just Siamesed an extra cylinder onto EA heads/blocks.