How to Replace a Mitsubishi Eclipse Head Gasket

by Kyla Chele Cambrooke

The Mitsubishi Eclipse comes equipped with 2.4-liter single four-cylinder engine that generates 162 horsepower at 6,000 revolutions per minute (RPM). Every once in awhile your car may overheat and blow its gasket. Other reasons to replace a head gasket include a weak gasket design or if the unit’s installation was incorrect.

Step 1

Work on the Eclipse when the engine is cold. Detach the cable from the battery terminal. Disconnect the negative cable from the battery. Allow the coolant to drain in a container that can close.

Step 2

Label each car part of the Eclipse. Ease the pressure from the fuel lines. Disconnect the hoses, including air intake hose, water hose and breather hose. Remove the spark plug wires, timing belt, exhaust manifold, intake manifold and air intake. Take off the camshaft sprockets. Remove the ignition coil. Take off the timing belt cover in the back, thermostat housing and water inlet.

Step 3

Undo the cylinder head anchoring bolts in a three-step process on the 2.4-liter engines. Start with the bolt in the bottom left corner. Torque the second bolt in the right top corner. The third bolt is in the top right corner, and the fourth is in the bottom left corner. The bolts on the top of the cylinder starting on your left are situated bolts 3, 5, 10, 8 and 2. On the bottom of the cylinder beginning on your left side are bolts 1, 7, 9, 6 and 4. Raise the cylinder out of the automobile and take out the head gasket. Clean the cylinder head block and surface.

Step 4

Sit a new gasket on the block. Place the cylinder over the new head gasket. Tighten the new bolts to 76 to 83 foot-pounds with a torque wrench. Connect the water inlet to the cylinder head in the front. Connect the hoses, thermostat housing, ignition coil and timing belt coil in the rear. Position the camshaft sprockets. Torque the attaching bolt to 65 foot-pounds with a torque wrench.

Step 5

Place sealer solution on the bottom section of the half-round section of the new gasket’s belt-side and position the valve covers in place. Use a torque wrench to torque the new bolts in the correct pattern to 2.16 foot-pounds and re-torque bolts Nos. 1 through 6 to 2.91 foot-pounds.

Step 6

Reinstall the center cover, spark plugs, breathe hose, timing belt, intake manifold, exhaust manifold, air intake plenum, air intake hoses and the triple pip assembly along the upper portion of the engine. Use a torque wrench to tighten the bolt to 9 foot-pounds. Replace all components back in the vehicle. Refill the coolant system with coolant. Fine-tune the accelerator cable and the idle speed and ignition timing. Connect the battery. Start the vehicle until it is warm. Turn the car off and check coolant level once the car is cold.

Things You'll Need