Randy,
     One thought I had is that the metal shims hardy
ever fail but what happens first is the green ring
fails and allows coolant to become superheated by
direct contact with the top of the cylinder next to
the metal shims.   This in turn is what causes the
coolant pressure to raise and pass out of the system
through the cap ultimately overheating.   I wonder if
anyone has evidence of these metal shims failing?
Just a thought as I suspect a cheap headgasket kit
which contains only the green ring and the big black
gasket would have worked for my leaking head.   All
and all $50.00 dollars was a fair price.   Just have a
lot of stuff left over from the job that seems like a
waste.       gary
--- Randy Huyck <Fritz_H@msn.com> wrote:
> The best I can figure is that the green ring keeps
> coolant from seeping up
> into the area around the metal shim that actually
> seals the cylinder, in
> order to prevent corrosion, steam pressure, I don't
> know what else.  I agree
> with you that the steel ring is what really seals
> the pressure in the
> cylinder.
>
> The black ring keeps the coolant and oil in their
> respective reservoirs.
>
> Randy, Carla & Anna Huyck
> Olympia, WA
>
>

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