A Californian YouTuber replaced his Miata’s head gasket in his driveway and 200 miles later the verdict is in
Published on Jan 25, 2026 at 3:27 AM (UTC+4)
by Grace Donohoe
Last updated on Jan 22, 2026 at 10:26 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Emma Matthews
This YouTuber replaced the head gasket on his Mazda Miata, and after driving the replacement for over 200 miles, the results of his efforts were in.
Playing a huge role in ensuring the car runs safely and smoothly, the job needed to be done properly.
Putting his skills and patience to the test, the task was intricate and lengthy.
But replacing the head gasket wasn’t the only task that needed tackling.
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The Mazda Miata – the ultimate ‘it’ car of the last few decades
The Miata is an instantly recognizable car, but it turns out that it started as just a sketch from a journalist for the head of Mazda R&D in the 1970s.
Then, just over a decade later, the first generation took shape in 1989, and it soon became a firm favorite within the car community.
This creator, in particular, is a fan of the Miata, and it turns out that the car was previously owned by his family, and now the heirloom is set to be taken on by him.
Unfortunately, though, Mellow_conner needed to perform some car cpr, which required the head gasket to be replaced.
The process wasn’t easy, with all elements needing to be ripped out, deep cleaned, and then reinstalled, and with many small parts and liquids involved, precision was key.
Initially, the car struggled to start, but after using jump cables, it started up, and the family gem was given a new lease of life.
That wasn’t quite the end of the story.
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200 miles after replacing the gasket, the results were in
After all of his intricate efforts, it seemed that the car fan’s work had all paid off.
However, after replacing everything and putting it back together, the car still wasn’t quite back to being fighting fit, and there was still a slight misfire.
So, to fix this, the content creator replaced the grommet and the PCV valve to really get the gasket going.
“I really couldn’t be anymore stoked about the way the car has taken it,” the creator explained.
Once he tackled that, it was time to try to give the car a spruce up, as it was covered in mould, and had a few exterior marks marring the bright red shell.
“The car runs decent, but is in bad cosmetic shape,” explained the creator.
So, armed with a homemade cleaning solution, he got to work giving the interior and hood a spring clean and even removed the Miata seat covers.
With the content creator ticking things off his list, his end goal was to set off into the sunset on a roadtrip across the country in his new and improved Miata.
You can catch the update at the top of the page, but stay tuned for the Miata roadtrip that will be underway very soon.
It’s set to be one mighty adventure, and a meaningful one at that, too.
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Beginning her career as a lifestyle reporter and social-media manager, Grace joined Supercar Blondie in February 2025. Since coming on board, has thrown herself into the busy daily writing schedule. Her editorial sweet spots include writing about luxury properties and the quirky features inside them that the one percent are investing in, as well as groundbreaking advancements in space exploration.
