mark-tozer Posted April 6, 2013 Share Posted April 6, 2013 (edited) i had the block and head skimed before anyone asks. i then fit this new athena mls head gasket put every back together etc. then started the engine up within 5-10mins the head gasket was leaking oil at the front of the head at the cambelt side right where the oil way is. i then striped it all out to investigate and looked at the gasket i couldnt work out how this athena gasket would seal around the oil way as there were 2 holes and one of them has nothing flat to seal on against the head unlike the genuine toyota that can seal flat around the oil way on the head. . just wondering if some one has had the same problem whether its wrong gasket or a faulty one. thanks i no in the pic the head gasket isnt lined up where it should go. just showing where the oil way is that it wont seal against if that makes sense. Edited April 6, 2013 by mark-tozer Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DevonGT Posted April 6, 2013 Share Posted April 6, 2013 Seems to be common - http://www.toyotagtturbo.com/forums/showthread.php?104229-Athena-MLS-1.2mm-Headgasket Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mark-tozer Posted April 6, 2013 Author Share Posted April 6, 2013 (edited) ok thanks ill have a read the genuine toyota gasket seal like this for comparison Edited April 6, 2013 by mark-tozer Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AdamB Posted April 7, 2013 Share Posted April 7, 2013 Just checked my athena and its the same mate Doesn't look properly cut out for the oil way upto the cylinder head. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stockrod Posted April 7, 2013 Share Posted April 7, 2013 Same here, just looked at mine. Surely this cant be right? I would had thought Toyota know best. What is the cruise mhg like? I'm contemplating not using the athena now. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ryan lang Posted April 7, 2013 Share Posted April 7, 2013 Is it not the wrong way up? Look at the holes non of them line up Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DevonGT Posted April 7, 2013 Share Posted April 7, 2013 Is it not the wrong way up? Look at the holes non of them line up I thought that looking at the pic. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AdamB Posted April 7, 2013 Share Posted April 7, 2013 Is it not the wrong way up? Look at the holes non of them line up Thats exactly what I thought, my athena is still in the wrapper so could only see one side Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ryan lang Posted April 7, 2013 Share Posted April 7, 2013 iirc taggy did it wrong 1st time around Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mark-tozer Posted April 7, 2013 Author Share Posted April 7, 2013 (edited) it is the right way up.it was just a pain trying to hold the gasket and take pics. ive got some better pics now. Edited April 7, 2013 by mark-tozer Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mark-tozer Posted April 7, 2013 Author Share Posted April 7, 2013 toyota genuine gasket Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Taggy Posted April 8, 2013 Share Posted April 8, 2013 I have had the same problem with my athena, i torqued the sucker down and it was still weapin oil in the corners! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stockrod Posted April 8, 2013 Share Posted April 8, 2013 Wtf are Athena thinking then? To many complaints to me warrant using mine now. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
akyakapotter Posted April 8, 2013 Share Posted April 8, 2013 I'm having one fitted soon hope mine will be ok Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mark-tozer Posted April 8, 2013 Author Share Posted April 8, 2013 I have had the same problem with my athena, i torqued the sucker down and it was still weapin oil in the corners! fucking shit aint it Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rwdrev Posted April 8, 2013 Share Posted April 8, 2013 so if theres problems with this, is there an alternative gasket? i was gonna put one on my new build, but now havn 2nd thoughts after seeing this..... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lew91 Posted April 8, 2013 Share Posted April 8, 2013 Have they always been like this or is it a manufacturing fault? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Taggy Posted April 8, 2013 Share Posted April 8, 2013 Not sure but my engine had a decked block, skimmed head so it was smooth as a babys bottom and it was still weeping oil after being torqued down with ARP head bolts. It wasnt leaking as such, but you could see a thin film of oil going around the head against the block, definetly not a proper seal. I wont use Athena again Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Amjad Posted April 8, 2013 Share Posted April 8, 2013 Weird, I always heard Athena were the best when it came to HGs Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ryan-11 Posted April 8, 2013 Share Posted April 8, 2013 Im using a 1.2mm Athena and its been fine, i also know a few people that used then and there fine, maybe a bad batch? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bean Posted April 9, 2013 Share Posted April 9, 2013 No problems with mine. It was fitted a few years ago now Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AlancEP82 Posted April 9, 2013 Share Posted April 9, 2013 Im using a 1.2mm Athena and its been fine, i also know a few people that used then and there fine, maybe a bad batch? bad batch is rite,lot of problems latley with lads using Athena gaskets not sealing up as they should Quote Link to post Share on other sites
pivwani Posted February 6, 2017 Share Posted February 6, 2017 I have used budget gaskets in the past and seen leaking from the front (4E-FTE). I sourced an Athena Racing Gasket and it was perfect. Make sure your head is not warped, take it to an engine reconditioner to check Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kwakers Posted May 24, 2019 Share Posted May 24, 2019 (edited) Hi ive just replaced the headgasket on my kz650 Kawasaki 1978 model because it was seeping oil at the front of the engine in between the down pipes. now the new gasket is leaking in the same place. Guess what? its an Athena gasket. The one ive replaced previous to this was also an Athena gasket. The reason for the gasket change to begin with, was because I holed a piston. I had no leaks with the original gasket which was an genuine Kawasaki gasket. So now reading all your posts about athena gaskets ive realised its not me going gaga, I've even resulted in using wynns oil leak cure additive to see if this will stop the seepage. So i think i might be going down the genuine gasket route. So strip down and get dirty again. I know this blog is for Toyota owners. But the link is athena gasket issues. As an ex Toyota mechanic for 20 plus years ive always had to fit genuine parts and never had an issue. Edited May 24, 2019 by Kwakers Clarify why I'm posting on this page Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.