Hi Everyone.
Got the turbo cylinder head (1000530/1326777) out of my 945T off to the machine shop for servicing.
Question: Who is making the best head gasket set for this turbo engine? Victor-Reinz, Elring, Felpro, or Volvo OEM? Just want the best, not the least expensive. I have a turbo booster installed on this engine.
Thoughts please.
Thanks as always.

In case the best isn't always available, go for Reinz.

Amarin

And the best is OEM?

"And the best is OEM?"

Yes!

Amarin

Hello again friends.
Now I find the OEM head gasket alone, or an OEM head gasket set, is not available from Volvo. Plenty of Victor-Reinz and Elring.
The one that now has my interest is the MLS gasket from FelPro. Not inexpensive, but is it worth it for this turbo red block?

Genuine Volvo head gaskets are NLA as previously noted. You may find the odd one on eBay from old stock. Reinz is reportedly the original gasket and a long time major supplier of other gaskets/seals to Volvo. Elring is another known major supplier to Volvo. You can expect high quality from either. Suppliers may change over the years. The likes of FCPEuro and ipd are among the most reputable suppliers in the aftermarket and have been selling both Reinz and Elring for decades for our red blocks. They would have stopped selling them years ago if there were reported problems.

As much as anything, making sure the head and block are perfectly clean and level, using high quality new bolts and observing proper torquing procedures will help avoid later problems. Note that an oiled thread is called for. A dry thread can result in both undertorquing and uneven torquing.
--
Dave -still with 940's, prev 740/240/140/120 You'd think I'd have learned by now

Nice reminder about oiling the threads Dave, thanks!
I can get Victor-Reinz and Elring with ease. My interest was perked up with the new MLS technology (maybe not new technology) offered by FelPro. Damn pricey set ($110+), but worth it, if it's the best to install. Sounds now like over-kill.
I'll stick with the Victor-Reinz set and remember to oil the threads.
Makes me wonder if I oiled them the last time...

The MLS (multi layered steel) headgasket is made of several thin layers of steel gaskets. This popular among the Subaru crowd. Most Subaru engines tend to develop oil and coolant leak (this due to its "open deck" block design) at around 100k miles so having many layers of gasket is proven to seal the head better for longer term.

Our redblock engine has "closed deck" block configuration so the standard headgasket design (single steel layer) is good enough.

Please google "open deck vs closed deck block" to better visualize the issue.

Some Subaru owners have opted to modify their block for "closed deck" design. Others "closed deck" boxer engines like in Alfa Romeo don't have this leaking at certain miles.

This of course is my observation after studying many engine design. My other hobby ;-)

So its use in turbo redblock may have some benefits (ie. sealing) if not much. But the redblock doesn't have this sealing issue in the first place (this my opinion)

Amarin

Mr. Amarin, you've been on this post for many years, and I value your opinion. thank you

Dear Townshend Act,

Hope you're well. I'm 99.9999% sure that for a B230F/FD/FT engine,
the best headgasket kit is one supplied by Volvo.

Hope this helps.

Stay well!!

Yours faithfully,

Spook

My friend Spook,
Thanks for your professional opinion.
You and Amarin are old members of the Brickboard, and your opinions count.
OEM will be specified for the reassembly.
Regards.

Volvo OEM

Thank you!