1.6 16v - B16A

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1.6 16v - B16A

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Reinforced head gasket Honda 1.6 1.7 1.8 16V VTEC B16A B17A1 B18C

Brand Gaskets Cylinder Head reinforced

Condition: New product

Reinforced Athena and Cometic head gasket, in MLS and MLX for VTEC B-series. Sold individually.

Brands: Athena, Cometic
Engines: B16A, B16A1, B16A2, B16A3, B17A1, B18C, B18C1, B18C5
Bores: 81 to 86.5 mm
Thicknesses: 0.60 to 3.56 mm

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The Honda engines covered

The Honda B16A is the 1.6-litre 16-valve DOHC VTEC inline four-cylinder petrol engine of the Civic, CRX and Integra; the B17A1 and the B18C are its 1.7 and 1.8-litre versions. This page covers the B16A, B16A1, B16A2, B16A3, B17A1, B18C, B18C1 and B18C5: these engines take the same reinforced cylinder head gaskets.

The original gasket carries part number 12251-P30-004, or 12251-P30-014 and 12251-PR3-004 depending on the version. It is a multi-layer steel (MLS) gasket with a 81.5 mm bore, whose thickness Honda does not publish. It is sized for standard combustion pressure: when that pressure rises, clamping load drops, the cylinder head lifts, and coolant passes into a cylinder.

Reinforced cylinder head gaskets

A cylinder head gasket does not create the seal on its own: it holds because the fasteners clamp the head against the block. A composite gasket is crushed for good beyond 100 N/mm² of admissible stress, whereas the 301 stainless steel of the MLS and MLX gaskets withstands 517 N/mm², 5 times more, and springs back at every combustion.

This page brings together the part numbers from two racing manufacturers, Athena and Cometic, in three constructions: Athena MLS with Gas Stopper, Cometic MLS multi-layer steel and Cometic MLX with a chamber stopper. Gasket bores run from 81 to 86.5 mm, covering the standard block as well as the rebored block, and thicknesses from 0.60 to 3.56 mm, enough to adjust the compression ratio without touching the pistons or the cylinder head. As a rule, the gasket bore chosen is at least 0.5 mm larger than the actual cylinder bore. Each part number is sold individually, one gasket per engine.

Technical specifications

Gasket bore OEM 81.5 mm	Thickness	Gasket volume	Gasket type OEM MLS	Brand	Part number OEM 12251-P30-004
81 mm	0.69 mm	3.56	MLS	Cometic	C4231-027
81 mm	0.76 mm	3.92	MLS	Cometic	C4231-030
81 mm	0.85 mm	4.38	MLS	Athena	338098R
81 mm	0.91 mm	4.69	MLS	Cometic	C4231-036
81 mm	1.02 mm	5.26	MLS	Cometic	C4231-040
81 mm	1.14 mm	5.87	MLS	Cometic	C4231-045
81 mm	1.30 mm	6.70	MLS	Cometic	C4231-051
81 mm	1.42 mm	7.32	MLS	Cometic	C4231-056
81 mm	1.52 mm	7.83	MLS	Cometic	C4231-060
81 mm	1.68 mm	8.66	MLS	Cometic	C4231-066
81 mm	1.78 mm	9.17	MLS	Cometic	C4231-070
81 mm	1.91 mm	9.84	MLS	Cometic	C4231-075
81 mm	2.03 mm	10.46	MLS	Cometic	C4231-080
81 mm	2.13 mm	10.98	MLS	Cometic	C4231-084
81 mm	2.18 mm	11.23	MLS	Cometic	C4231-086
81 mm	2.34 mm	12.06	MLS	Cometic	C4231-092
81 mm	2.49 mm	12.83	MLS	Cometic	C4231-098
81 mm	3.05 mm	15.72	MLS	Cometic	C4231-120
81 mm	3.56 mm	18.34	MLS	Cometic	C4231-140
81.5 mm	0.60 mm	3.13	MLS	Athena	338402R
81.5 mm	0.69 mm	3.60	MLS	Cometic	C4232-027
81.5 mm	0.76 mm	3.96	MLS	Cometic	C4232-030
81.5 mm	0.85 mm	4.43	MLS	Athena	338085R
81.5 mm	0.91 mm	4.75	MLS	Cometic	C4232-036
81.5 mm	1.02 mm	5.32	MLS	Cometic	C4232-040
81.5 mm	1.14 mm	5.95	MLS	Cometic	C4232-045
81.5 mm	1.30 mm	6.78	MLS	Cometic	C4232-051
81.5 mm	1.42 mm	7.41	MLS	Cometic	C4232-056
81.5 mm	1.52 mm	7.93	MLS	Cometic	C4232-060
81.5 mm	1.68 mm	8.76	MLS	Cometic	C4232-066
81.5 mm	1.78 mm	9.29	MLS	Cometic	C4232-070
81.5 mm	1.91 mm	9.96	MLS	Cometic	C4232-075
81.5 mm	2.03 mm	10.59	MLS	Cometic	C4232-080
81.5 mm	2.13 mm	11.11	MLS	Cometic	C4232-084
81.5 mm	2.18 mm	11.37	MLS	Cometic	C4232-086
81.5 mm	2.34 mm	12.21	MLS	Cometic	C4232-092
81.5 mm	2.49 mm	12.99	MLS	Cometic	C4232-098
81.5 mm	3.05 mm	15.91	MLS	Cometic	C4232-120
81.5 mm	3.56 mm	18.57	MLS	Cometic	C4232-140
82 mm	0.69 mm	3.64	MLS	Cometic	C4168-027
82 mm	0.76 mm	4.01	MLS	Cometic	C4168-030
82 mm	0.85 mm	4.49	MLS	Athena	338086R
82 mm	0.91 mm	4.81	MLS	Cometic	C4168-036
82 mm	1.02 mm	5.39	MLS	Cometic	C4168-040
82 mm	1.14 mm	6.02	MLS	Cometic	C4168-045
82 mm	1.30 mm	6.87	MLS	Cometic	C4168-051
82 mm	1.42 mm	7.50	MLS	Cometic	C4168-056
82 mm	1.52 mm	8.03	MLS	Cometic	C4168-060
82 mm	1.68 mm	8.87	MLS	Cometic	C4168-066
82 mm	1.78 mm	9.40	MLS	Cometic	C4168-070
82 mm	1.91 mm	10.09	MLS	Cometic	C4168-075
82 mm	2.03 mm	10.72	MLS	Cometic	C4168-080
82 mm	2.13 mm	11.25	MLS	Cometic	C4168-084
82 mm	2.18 mm	11.51	MLS	Cometic	C4168-086
82 mm	2.34 mm	12.36	MLS	Cometic	C4168-092
82 mm	2.49 mm	13.15	MLS	Cometic	C4168-098
82 mm	3.05 mm	16.11	MLS	Cometic	C4168-120
82 mm	3.56 mm	18.80	MLS	Cometic	C4168-140
83 mm	0.69 mm	3.73	MLS	Cometic	C4189-027
83 mm	0.76 mm	4.11	MLS	Cometic	C4189-030
83 mm	0.85 mm	4.60	MLS	Athena	338087R
83 mm	0.91 mm	4.92	MLS	Cometic	C4189-036
83 mm	1.02 mm	5.52	MLS	Cometic	C4189-040
83 mm	1.14 mm	6.17	MLS	Cometic	C4189-045
83 mm	1.30 mm	7.03	MLS	Cometic	C4189-051
83 mm	1.42 mm	7.68	MLS	Cometic	C4189-056
83 mm	1.52 mm	8.22	MLS	Cometic	C4189-060
83 mm	1.68 mm	9.09	MLS	Cometic	C4189-066
83 mm	1.78 mm	9.63	MLS	Cometic	C4189-070
83 mm	1.91 mm	10.33	MLS	Cometic	C4189-075
83 mm	2.03 mm	10.98	MLS	Cometic	C4189-080
83 mm	2.13 mm	11.52	MLS	Cometic	C4189-084
83 mm	2.18 mm	11.80	MLS	Cometic	C4189-086
83 mm	2.34 mm	12.66	MLS	Cometic	C4189-092
83 mm	2.49 mm	13.47	MLS	Cometic	C4189-098
83 mm	3.05 mm	16.50	MLS	Cometic	C4189-120
83 mm	3.56 mm	19.26	MLS	Cometic	C4189-140
84 mm	0.69 mm	3.82	MLS	Cometic	C4188-027
84 mm	0.76 mm	4.21	MLS	Cometic	C4188-030
84 mm	0.85 mm	4.71	MLS	Athena	338088R
84 mm	0.91 mm	5.04	MLS	Cometic	C4188-036
84 mm	1.02 mm	5.65	MLS	Cometic	C4188-040
84 mm	1.14 mm	6.32	MLS	Cometic	C4188-045
84 mm	1.30 mm	7.20	MLS	Cometic	C4188-051
84 mm	1.42 mm	7.87	MLS	Cometic	C4188-056
84 mm	1.52 mm	8.42	MLS	Cometic	C4188-060
84 mm	1.68 mm	9.31	MLS	Cometic	C4188-066
84 mm	1.78 mm	9.86	MLS	Cometic	C4188-070
84 mm	1.91 mm	10.58	MLS	Cometic	C4188-075
84 mm	2.03 mm	11.25	MLS	Cometic	C4188-080
84 mm	2.13 mm	11.80	MLS	Cometic	C4188-084
84 mm	2.18 mm	12.08	MLS	Cometic	C4188-086
84 mm	2.34 mm	12.97	MLS	Cometic	C4188-092
84 mm	2.49 mm	13.80	MLS	Cometic	C4188-098
84 mm	3.05 mm	16.90	MLS	Cometic	C4188-120
84 mm	3.56 mm	19.73	MLS	Cometic	C4188-140
84.5 mm	0.76 mm	4.26	MLS	Cometic	H1340SP1030S
84.5 mm	1.30 mm	7.29	MLS	Cometic	H1340SP1051S
85 mm	0.69 mm	3.92	MLS	Cometic	C4182-027
85 mm	0.76 mm	4.31	MLS	Cometic	C4182-030
85 mm	0.85 mm	4.82	MLS	Athena	338089R
85 mm	0.91 mm	5.16	MLS	Cometic	C4182-036
85 mm	1.02 mm	5.79	MLS	Cometic	C4182-040
85 mm	1.09 mm	6.19	MLX	Cometic	C4999-043
85 mm	1.14 mm	6.47	MLS	Cometic	C4182-045
85 mm	1.30 mm	7.38	MLS	Cometic	C4182-051
85 mm	1.42 mm	8.06	MLS	Cometic	C4182-056
85 mm	1.52 mm	8.63	MLS	Cometic	C4182-060
85 mm	1.68 mm	9.53	MLS	Cometic	C4182-066
85 mm	1.78 mm	10.10	MLS	Cometic	C4182-070
85 mm	1.91 mm	10.84	MLS	Cometic	C4182-075
85 mm	2.03 mm	11.52	MLS	Cometic	C4182-080
85 mm	2.13 mm	12.09	MLS	Cometic	C4182-084
85 mm	2.18 mm	12.37	MLS	Cometic	C4182-086
85 mm	2.34 mm	13.28	MLS	Cometic	C4182-092
85 mm	2.49 mm	14.13	MLS	Cometic	C4182-098
85 mm	3.05 mm	17.31	MLS	Cometic	C4182-120
85 mm	3.56 mm	20.20	MLS	Cometic	C4182-140
85.5 mm	0.69 mm	3.96	MLS	Cometic	H1342SP2027S
86 mm	0.76 mm	4.41	MLS	Cometic	H1342SP1030S
86 mm	1.02 mm	5.92	MLS	Cometic	C14096-040
86 mm	1.02 mm	5.92	MLS	Cometic	H1342SP1040S
86 mm	2.03 mm	11.79	MLS	Cometic	H1342SP1080S
86 mm	2.13 mm	12.37	MLS	Cometic	H1342SP1084S
86.5 mm	0.76 mm	4.47	MLS	Cometic	H1342SPF030S

Gasket volume: the space the gasket leaves above each cylinder. It enlarges the combustion chamber, and the larger it is, the lower the compression ratio. Values compare with one another at identical gasket bore.

Preparation and fitting

Fasteners	Engines	Tightening torque
Original cylinder head bolts 90006-PG6-003, M12x1,25 x 150	B16A, B16A2, B16A3	Not published
Original cylinder head bolts M12x1,25 x 150	B16A1, B17A1, B18C, B18C1, B18C5	29 Nm, then 85 Nm
ARP cylinder head studs ARP-208-4601	B16A, B16A1, B16A2, B16A3	36 Nm, then 72 Nm, then 108 Nm
ARP cylinder head studs ARP-208-4303	B17A1, B18C1, B18C5	36 Nm, then 72 Nm, then 108 Nm

Before fitting, check the flatness of the cylinder head and of the block with a straight edge and have them skimmed if necessary. None of these gaskets requires sealant: Athena and Cometic both supply them already coated.

Reinforced ARP cylinder head studs B16A →

Technical guide

The three constructions offered

	Athena MLS Two to five layers of AISI 301 stainless steel, laser cut, stamped and riveted. Around each cylinder, a layer folded over on itself, the Gas Stopper, concentrates the clamping load on the combustion chamber, while beads seal the water and oil passages. The outer layers receive a two-coat finish: the first withstands high temperatures and fills small irregularities on the block and cylinder head, the second, silicone based, keeps the gasket from sticking on disassembly. This is Athena's all-steel choice, from a prepared naturally aspirated engine to moderate forced induction.
	Cometic MLS Several stamped and riveted stainless steel layers. The outer layers carry active beads around each cylinder and each fluid passage. Sealing is achieved with a moderate clamping load and limited bore distortion. This is the versatile choice, from a prepared naturally aspirated engine to light forced induction.
	Cometic MLX The same base as the MLS, with a folded centre layer forming a stopper around the combustion chamber and a high-temperature coating. Local clamping increases without adding bore distortion. It is the most resistant of the all-steel gaskets, to be chosen when boost goes beyond what an MLS can hold, in 85 mm.

Choosing bore and thickness

Gasket bore. The Athena MLS comes in 81, 81.5, 82, 83, 84 and 85 mm, the Cometic MLS in 81, 81.5, 82, 83, 84, 84.5, 85, 85.5, 86 and 86.5 mm, the Cometic MLX in 85 mm.

Thickness. Honda does not publish the thickness of the original gasket. A thicker gasket enlarges the combustion chamber and lowers the compression ratio; a thinner one reduces it and raises the ratio.

Your goal	Thickness to choose
Keep the original compression ratio	The value closest to the thickness of the removed gasket
Skimmed cylinder head, make up the lost height	The thickness of the removed gasket + what was removed
Forced induction build, lower the ratio	A thickness above that of the removed gasket
Naturally aspirated build, raise the ratio	A thickness below that of the removed gasket

With a thickness finer than that of the removed gasket, measure piston protrusion above the block with a dial gauge: it is what determines the remaining clearance between piston and cylinder head.

The two brands

	Athena S.p.A. is an Italian manufacturer of engine gaskets and components, with its head office and main plant in Alonte, in the Veneto region. The group also produces in Spain, the United States, Brazil and India. Its multi-layer gaskets are fitted as original equipment by car manufacturers, and its racing range is designed and made entirely in Italy.
	Cometic Gasket, Inc. is an American manufacturer of engine gaskets and sealing solutions, founded in 1989 and based in Concord, Ohio. Its speciality is the made-to-order gasket, in the bore and thickness required. All its products are made in the United States, from American materials.

Advantages over the original gasket

Criterion	Original gasket 12251-P30-004	Reinforced gaskets
Construction	Multi-layer steel (MLS)	Multi-layer stainless steel
Gasket bore	81.5 mm	81 to 86.5 mm
Thicknesses available	Not published by Honda	0.60 to 3.56 mm, 21 values
Compression ratio adjustment	None	Through the thickness chosen
Resistance to overpressure	Limited to standard output	Designed for forced induction

When a reinforced gasket becomes necessary

Adding forced induction, or raising boost on an already turbocharged engine
Cylinder rebored beyond what the 81.5 mm bore of the original gasket covers
Looking for a compression ratio different from standard, higher or lower
Engine that has already lost its gasket, or is consuming coolant
Competition use, where the gasket goes through repeated temperature rises

Vehicle compatibility

Model	Engine code	Power	Years
Acura Integra	B17A1	162 hp	1991-1993
Acura Integra	B18C5	197 hp	1996-2001
Honda Capa (GA)	B16A	170 hp	1998-2002
Honda Civic IV (EC, ED, EE, EF)	B16A1	150 hp	1988-1991
Honda Civic V (EG, EH)	B16A2	160 hp	1991-1995
Honda Civic VI (EJ, EK)	B16A2	160 hp	1995-2001
Honda Civic VI Coupé (EJ, EM1)	B16A2	160 hp	1999-2000
Honda CRX II (ED, EE)	B16A1	150 hp	1989-1992
Honda CRX III (EH, EG)	B16A2	160 hp	1992-1998
Honda CRX III (EH, EG)	B16A3	160 hp	1992-1998
Honda Integra (DA)	B16A	170 hp	1989-1993
Honda Integra (DB)	B18C	180 hp	1993-2001
Honda Integra Coupé (DC)	B18C	180 hp	1993-2001
Honda Integra Coupé (DC)	B18C1	173 and 200 hp	1993-2001

OEM part number: 12251-P30-004, 12251-P30-014, 12251-PR3-004.

Important: the non-VTEC B18A1 and B18B1, the B20B and B20Z, as well as hybrid builds with a VTEC head on a non-VTEC block, take other cylinder head gaskets: they are not covered by this page.

Why switch to a reinforced gasket?

A reinforced gasket holds where the standard one reaches its limit: at higher combustion pressure it keeps its shape instead of being crushed.

As soon as power goes up, turbo, supercharger or raised compression ratio, the head gasket becomes the weak link of the top end. Switching to a reinforced gasket is then not a comfort but a safeguard: it is what prevents the failure and the head removal that comes with it.

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