The head gasket in a single-engine Mitsubishi rests in the middle of the engine and cylinder head. The part is an important component on the Mitsubishi, since it keeps the coolant and motor oil from mixing together while it circulates through the engine block. It also is the location where the internal combustion process takes place. If your Mitsubishi overheats, you probably need to replace your head gasket. Others reasons for replacing your head gasket can include a poorly designed gasket, dirty bolts and incorrect installation.
Assure your Mitsubishi has a cool engine before working. Take the negative battery cable a loose. Locate and open the plug near the compressor in the back of the power steering pump to release the coolant from the vehicle. This stops the coolant from spilling into the pistons and crankcase.
Tag and label the Mitsubishi parts before you remove or detach from the automobile. Disengage or take off the air intake duct, air cleaning housing, fuel line and ignition wires. Disconnect the various hoses, including the heater hose, coolant bypass hose and radiator hose. Slip off the power steering pump belt. Remove the pump from the mount. Position the pump on a work table. Do not disconnect the hydraulic line.
Place wooden blocks on padded floor jacks and position under the vehicle. Take off the engine mounting brackets on the front left side. Slip the air conditioning compressor from around the engine and take off the alternator belt.
Loosen the nuts on the left side of the engine. Take off mounting brackets. Disengage the dipstick hose and take off the crankshaft pulley, valve cover, top timing belt and the timing belt cover. Remove the distributor and loosen nuts on the throttle cable and slide it of the assembly.
Remove or disengage the engine parts on the top of the unit and the numerous electrical connections: engine coolant temperature sensor, manifold absolute pressure sensor, camshaft position sensor, exhaust gas recirculation valve and crankshaft position sensor.
Remove the bolts from the cylinder head in a criss-cross sequence in the opposite order of the installation. Begin with the bolts that are the farthest away and work your way to the middle of the cylinder head.
Look at the cylinder for worn and damaged areas and replace if necessary. Take off the old head gasket and clean the surface. Place a cover over the engine block to assure dirt, dust and foreign objects do not go in the engine. Line up the control lips and dowel pins. Put the control lips in place and position an O-ring.
Add a new head gasket with the identification numbers facing up. Position the camshaft and oiled camshaft. Tighten the bolts on the cylinder head and torque with a three-step procedure. Torque the retaining bolts to 65 foot-pounds. Place a seal to the bottom edges of the half-round sections of the new head gasket's belted side and position the valve cover. Torque the bolts in the correct sequence to 2.61 foot-pounds and tighten the bolts one through six again to 2.95 foot-pounds.
Replace all of the parts in the engine block in the reverse order. Refill the coolant. Reference a Mitsubishi service manual for the correct sequence and torque of the various Mitsubishi vehicles.
