Six Star MLS Head Gaskets?

[ElementalG20]

I'm debting on using the 6 star HG kit from allwheeldriveautomotive.com(this is NOT a plug, never done buisness with them YET), or buying oem subaru parts?

You can buy oem subie parts a bit cheaper, but if the six star mls gaskets are better I'm definately going to go that route. I've poked around a little and not found alot on it. They(awdauto) say they are a better design and based to a degree off the turbo design that is not supposed to have issues.

What say ye?

[AWDFTW]

The new Subaru gaskets are also a MLS design, but I think a tiny bit thinner than AllWheel's version. As long as the HG job is done correctly (check and machine heads if needed, thorough cleaning, etc) I would trust either.

[ElementalG20]

That's interested, I asked awdauto if they could compare them. They said the new oem gasket is not mls for the sohc engines, but there six star gasket is mls. Either way my heads are going to a reputable machinist for a pressure check, valve inspection, and of course gettin' them nice and flat.

[ntippet]

I used them just recently when I did my headgaskets.
The OEM gaskets are also MLS design as AWDFTW said.
Either new design will work just fine as long as the job is done correctly.
I can dig up some photos if you want to see any of the differences.
AWDauto is great to deal with and are very quick.

[mikec]

ntippet and awdftw

Guys, please explain something to me. I looked at the 11044AA633 Subaru head gasket at the dealership. This is the replacement gasket for the 2.5 SOHC engine 2000-2009. It is ONE single metal sheet with a black coating on each side.

The Six Star replacement HG is clearly three [or 4?] metal sheets as shown on the AWD website.

How can they both be MLS which I assume means multi layer steel.

[ntippet]

Hmm that's strange mikec.

The last time I repaired a 1st generation DOHC 2.5 the Subaru gasket was the updated MLS style.
I was under the impression the same was the case for the 2nd generation SOHC 2.5.

Edit:
Interesting, from what I have been reading the SOHC never received the MLS gasket style update from Subaru.
The 2010+ 2.5L did get the MLS design though. PN#11044AA770, not interchangeable with the older 2.5L engines.
I am glad I went with AWDauto gasket then.

[mikec]

ntippet

Yes, that's my understanding too. And it is too bad that subaru didn't go with a MLS head gasket for the 00-09 replacement. For me, it's more then academic since my 02 has started to leak!

[grossgary]

11044AA610 is the headgasket you want from Subaru. Subaru usually wants to hand out the single ply joker. the 610 is the one recommended by others doing lots of these motors and so that's what I've been using. so far batting 1,000 and so are others that do countless EJ motors. GD and Shawn W. over at USMB do untold numbers of EJ motors and use Subaru gaskets as well with, at least in GD's case, a perfect batting average too, I don't know Shawns his is probably too many to keep track of.

the Fel Pro aftermarkets are also coming out as MLS now and folks are starting to use them. i haven't yet but they are cheaper.

how badly it's been overheated and how well the job is performed will give the most value for this job, not whether 6 star or Subaru gaskets are used.

[ntippet]

grossgary are you sure about that # working on a 2nd gen SOHC?
11044AA610 is what I used on a 98 DOHC 2.5

The # that keep I seeing for a MLS replacement on the SOHC 2.5 is actually a WRX gasket.
#11044AA642
Can anyone confirm this?

[mikec]

For those getting confused a little by the HG numbers, let me try and clear a few things up.

The 610 HG is used as as a replacement for the DOHC 2.5 engine for legacy 1997-1999. I have read that some people consider it a bullet proof replacement for those motors.

The 642 HG is the original HG for the turbo 2.5 EJ 255 engine starting around 2005 [don't know how many years following]. I have read that some people consider it a replacement for the 2000-09 NA SOHC 2.5 engine instead of the factory recommended 633.

Both the 610 and 642 are [from what I read] MLS gaskets.

I haven't read up to the post by grossgary that the 610 HG could be used on the 2000-09 NA SOHC 2.5 engines. I'm curious to find out the differences between them.