If we were to replace a head gasket with pressure indicating film, we would notice that the head doesJeff Lee wrote: ↑Tue Mar 17, 2020 6:09 amIf that is true, then I would think one would adjust their deck height / compression height to allow for the thinnest head gasket possible. Agree?David Redszus wrote: ↑Thu Mar 12, 2020 10:47 pmThe deck plate can indeed be made of aluminum or steel. What really matters is that the deck plate does notdigger wrote: ↑Thu Mar 12, 2020 8:44 pm i don't agree on some of the points in OP as it seems like it is saying for a given engine the torque plate can be either steel or alloy. it must be the same modulus as the head material otherwise the local deformations are different and simply using a thinner plate if using steel is not equivalent. In addition the block and deck plate both deform as a system, its not just the gasket compressing.
deform under clamping load. If alternative materials are used, thickness must be adjusted to provide the same
compression. In either case, the deck plate must contact the armor ring of the gasket as does the cylinder head.
The gasket will deform under compression but not uniformly. The use of pressure indicating film will show
local pressure zones.
Another test is to measure bore distortion with and without a gasket. Without a gasket, the bore will deform
very little, if at all.
not contact the block surface uniformly. Consequently, a gasket with some compression is necessary to
provide uniform sealing.
Solid, soft copper gaskets were sometimes used with turbo engines. But a used gasket could not be reused
since it had work hardened from previous compression.
Head gasket technology is a subject that requires professional insight from a gasket engineer at FelPro.
My guy has retired some time ago.