Cylinder head gasket for use in an internal combustion engine and internal combustion engine equipped therewith

In a combustion engine with a cylinder head and with a cylinder crankcase having a cylinder bore and a coolant duct formed therein, the coolant duct being disposed adjacent the cylinder bore and being a cooling system component, a gasket configuration, comprising:

• a cylinder head gasket to be provided between the cylinder head and the cylinder crankcase, the coolant duct having a coolant duct upper end and being open toward said cylinder head gasket at said coolant duct upper end;
• said cylinder head gasket having a side facing the cylinder crankcase when said cylinder head gasket is in an installed state;
• and
• said cylinder head gasket having a channel formed on said side of said cylinder head gasket facing the cylinder crankcase, said channel being in a flow connection with the coolant duct, being interrupted at the coolant duct, and being a cooling system component.