Although it’s easy to get preoccupied with the big dollar parts that go into high-performance engines, experienced engine builders know that power and reliability come from the small details. The biggest turbos, best-flowing heads, and stiffest bottom end don’t mean anything if they aren’t perfectly seated, and that’s where high-performance gaskets and seals come in.
Unlike mass-produced OEM gaskets that are only intended for normal operating conditions, high-performance gaskets are designed specifically to ensure leakproof seals under conditions that include extreme pressures, high temperatures, and severe vibration. Simply put, they’re the reason that high-performance engines are able to reliably produce the tyre-shredding power that they do, and making sure that you’re starting every high-performance build with the highest quality gaskets is a tip that you can’t afford to ignore.
High-Performance Gaskets for Bulletproof Engine Builds
It doesn’t matter if you’re doing a timing belt swap on a daily driver, or rebuilding a full-blown competition engine, high-performance car engine gasket and seal sets are the best way to protect costly powerplants from fluid losses and compression leaks. High performance gaskets not only provide an essential barrier that prevents disasterous fluid or gas blowby from occuring between static engine components, but they also eliminate the destructive friction that can lead to catastrophic heat builtup and metal fatigue.
Even when used with high tensile fasteners, OE-spec gaskets aren’t designed for the stresses that heavily modified engines are capable of producing. That makes high-performance car gasket sets the only choice when big power outputs are involved, together with a list of supplemental benefits that include:
- Greater engine efficiency;
- Compensation against imperfect mating surfaces; and,
- Reduced risk of debris entering the engine.
Regardless of the type of application you’re building for, the technology incorporated into modern high performance gaskets has all the attributes you need to make it bulletproof. And while there’s no shortage of high quality gasket manufacturers, there are a handful that lead the pack in performance.
Premium Composites for Optimized Sealing SurfacesÂ
Cometic, Athena, and Permaseal are among the most trusted brands in Australia when it comes to high-quality engine gasket sets, and they’re committed to the widest range of comprehensive, top and bottom-end sealing solutions, including:
- Turbo inlet and outlet gaskets;
- Intake and exhaust manifold gaskets;
- The valve cover and oil pan gaskets;
- Distributor, carburettor, and thermostat gaskets; and,
- Timing cover and water pump gaskets.
With a new generation of advanced armour-clad, and reinforced steel, fibre, and graphite composite technologies at their disposal, modern high-performance automotive gasket sets are not only more reliable than they’ve ever been, but they’re also more effective. Today’s premium material gaskets are as efficient at controlling heat, and reducing engine noise and wear, as they are at preventing fluids and gases from escaping. That gives them the final word in optimizing any engine build, regardless of how you plan to use it.
High-Performance Gaskets for the Highest-Performance Engines
You can find competition-grade gaskets for sale for some of the most powerful high-performance engines ever sold in Australia, including:
- Toyota 1JZs, 2JZs, and 1FZs;
- Nissan RB25s, 30s, and 32s, and CA18s;
- Chevy 5.3l, 5.7l, and 6.0l LSs;
- Ford 250 Xflows and Barra XR6s; and,
- Holden 186s and 202s.
With the right combination of high powered internals and performance bolt-ons, each of these engines is capable of increasing their factory outputs by 2-, 3-, and in some cases, an astounding 10-fold. These massive power increases are only possible because of the exceptional fluid and gas sealing capacities that high-performance automotive gasket sets have, and this is especially true when it comes to head gaskets. They’re responsible for containing explosive air-fuel mixtures as well as preventing oil and water from coming with them, and only extraordinarily capable gasket designs are capable of handling those demands.
You Get Unparalleled Reliability with MLS Head GasketsÂ
While the prospect of head gasket failure is problematic for any engine, the resulting uncontrolled combustion can mean instant destruction for a high-compression engine. High temperatures, extreme pressures, and surface movement make them arguably an engine’s most critical mating surface, and only a Multi-Layer Steel (MLS) motor gasket has the strength and reliability to maintain its seal under high output conditions.
MLS gaskets are made up of 3 – 5 layers of embossed, corrosion-resistant stainless steel, and boast an array of high-performance sealing benefits that include:
- Unrivalled compressive strength, especially when used with high-quality bolts and fasteners;
- Unrivalled protection against leakage;
- Vitron rubber-coated heat resistance;
- Superior rebound characteristics under combustion; and,
- A significant reduction of potential wear and fatigue at the mating surfaces.
Because of their rubber-coated outer layers, MLS automotive gaskets don’t require gasket sealant, and their shimmed centre sections allow them to be adjusted to satisfy varying deck thickness requirements. They can be set up to satisfy any head/block, or compression combination without the risk of uneven torque loading across the seating surface, and are designed to work perfectly with any deck surface finish.
The Final Word
At the end of the day, a high-performance engine is only as strong as it is reliable. Even the mightiest motors can be reduced to scrap metal if they’re not sealed properly, and that’s precisely what can happen if you’re using OE-grade gaskets on a high output build.
The reliable high-performance builds start with the best sealing materials, and high-performance car engine gasket and seal sets are what’s needed to be sure that your engine stays together. They’re a small investment that goes a long way to keeping your high output engine running its best.
