Wrong holes in head gasket

JoeV70XC · Post by **JoeV70XC** » 07 Dec 2018, 20:33

Good day.

I have a 2000 V70XC.

On the Rock Auto site, I see two different styles of head gaskets, from 3 makers. The difference is in the placement of the water passage holes.

The Felpro looks different than the Mahle and Ajusa. All are allegedly for my engine.

Any ideas why they would be different? I don't have my head off yet so I'm not sure what my head gasket looks like.

Thanks.

Post by **erikv11** » 07 Dec 2018, 22:29

I'm not sure I would trust the pictures on the RA web site to be the actual gasket you will receive. But anyway, it is not uncommon for there to be extra holes in a head gasket. I'd pony up and buy it from Volvo. Costs more but worth it, consider all the $$ you're not paying to someone else to do the wrenching. When the head comes off the head gasket, valve stem seals, spark plug tube seals all come from Volvo. Corteco only on the cam seals (or Volvo but you will overpay).

JoeV70XC · Post by **JoeV70XC** » 08 Dec 2018, 01:28

I'll probably do that. The Volvo is more or less a project car so I'm going to wait until the head is off before I do anything.

Post by **jimmy57** » 08 Dec 2018, 08:52

The 2000 engine is the RN version and they should use the head gasket with progressive larger holes for block to head coolant ports towards rear of engine. Volvo added a blocker piece in block and changed the holes to get more coolant to rear of head so the temp throughout was consistent. Before the changes the front of head had more coolant flow and was cooler. I wonder if they took actual pictures or used representative picture of 5 cylinder volvo engine gasket. If the P/N are the same for 98 and 2000 for that brand then it can't be right one.

on edit: I looked at RA catalog and it looks like the 98 2.4 turbo and 2000 2.4 turbo have the same pic for Felp-pro but do have different numbers. Mahle and AJUSA both have the progressive transfer holes.

JoeV70XC · Post by **JoeV70XC** » 08 Dec 2018, 09:59

Those are exactly the holes I was talking about. I have time so I'll probably just go with the Volvo part. I am paranoid so I'm still going to wait until I have the head off before I order.

Thanks.

Post by **rspi** » 10 Dec 2018, 19:51

Best warning you'll ever get... BUY A VOLVO HEAD GASKET. I'm pretty much on the OEM part for anything that takes longer than 1 hour to replace.