While on ebay I stumbled across head gaskets being sold for several engines (new and old) that I wasn't aware came with head gaskets from the factory in the first place. As an example, these include older/vintage engines such as the Veco .19 or the Enya 15-III and also many other newer engines which don't specify a head gasket. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Aftermarket...UAAOSwPbBc2ake I happen to have NIB examples of the Veco .19 and Enya .15 and neither of them have head gaskets from the factory.

What gives? These can't be performance enhancers since they would (albeit ever so slightly) lower the overall compression ratio . And with clean mating surfaces and proper torque spread among the head bolts leaks aren't usually a big concern. So are these to be looked at as "just in case" gaskets to prevent head leaks?

Signed: dazed and confused