| It looks more like the gasket failed last time due to it being squeezed/stretched up almost above the contact area, so the gasket was not offering the full contact width and so a weak area. When you place the new gasket does it contact the mating faces better?
As for the nicks... I don't think they are anything to worry about, as said, if you want to file them out then fine, but watch you clean up the filings 100%. |