On 11 Feb 2005 07:09:31 -0800, wrote:

Copper gaskets can be annealed by heating red hot and quenching in
cold water. They can be reused three or four times this way until their
diameter gets too large from being squashed. Using used, unannealed
gaskets can result in small leaks, and a leaking plug can carry carbon
into the threads and make it really hard to remove without damaging the
head's thread socket.

Dan

And you're posting this during a discussion of the question whether or
not an owner can change their own plugs.

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