gasket sealant
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Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Santa Clarita
gasket sealant
I'm just curious what sealant you guys use and recommend for gaskets. I'm using Permatex Ultra Blue. It seems to work OK, however takes quite a while to set. The color is great with my Ford 302.
Posting Legend
Joined: Sep 2001
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Most gaskets are designed to work without sealant. The gasket IS the seal. I use silicone dielectric grease or just plain grease on many gaskets to make the gasket residue easier to remove later. I use adhesive on one side of some gaskets tho. Adhesive on the cover side of valve cover gaskets. Adhesive on the water pump side of the water pump, etc. I then use grease on the other side so I don't have to scrape the block surface etc later. It is much easier to scrape the valve cover etc on the bench than to take a chance of junk getting into the engine plus the back-breaking effort bending over the engine...
Many people use that nasty silicone form a gasket but I have taken apart far too many engines where small pieces of that junk has broken off and clogged the oil pump pickup screen or the radiator etc. A tiny tiny particle of that stuff jammed an oil pump on an engine I found. The oil pump shaft broke and the bearings went out.
Many people use that nasty silicone form a gasket
but I have taken apart far too many engines where small pieces of that junk has broken off and clogged the oil pump pickup screen or the radiator etc. A tiny tiny particle of that stuff jammed an oil pump on an engine I found. The oil pump shaft broke and the bearings went out.
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Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Santa Clarita
Interesting! I pretty much do the same thing on valve covers, timing housings etc. I use the Ultra blue as an adhesive. However, most gaskets I have used, are made of gasket material, or cork and I don't believe are designed to be used without a sealant?. Some are rubber as the valve covers which I always purchase. By putting the dielectric grease on the engine surface, does that seal the gasket from leaking on non rubberized gaskets, especially in areas like the intake manifold and timing housing?
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Lancaster CA
I use the blue permatex on just about half the surfaces I have. If the surface has been machined though I dont use any at all. I personally had an engine wasted because of the blue stuff. Anyhow dont use too much of any sealer and you should be fine.
Posting Legend
Joined: Sep 2001
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Gasket materials like cork, rubber, and paper are designed to be used without sealer. The gasket IS the sealer!
The silicone dielectric makes it easy to remove the part. There is no gasket scraping required on the block side of the part. I have never had any problems with gaskets leaking. I use some gaskets absolutely dry but I have found that the gasket usually sticks to the surfaces anyway and requires scraping. A very thin film of silicone grease is all that I use. Just enuf to see that it has wet the surface.
Carb gaskets are never used with ANY sealant. Although I do use silicone grease on them also just in case I need to get back in and re-use the gaskets. Again it keeps them from sticking.
The silicone dielectric makes it easy to remove the part. There is no gasket scraping required on the block side of the part. I have never had any problems with gaskets leaking. I use some gaskets absolutely dry but I have found that the gasket usually sticks to the surfaces anyway and requires scraping. A very thin film of silicone grease is all that I use. Just enuf to see that it has wet the surface.
Carb gaskets are never used with ANY sealant. Although I do use silicone grease on them also just in case I need to get back in and re-use the gaskets. Again it keeps them from sticking.
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Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Rocksprings
torque has hit the nail right on the head. if the surface you are putting a gasket on is corroded or pitted (water outlet comes to mind) it may help to put some goo on that surface. i have known many people who seem to be "in love" with the gasket cement. it makes part replacement a true pain in the rear. just assembled my 289 and used NO gasket goo on it except where the intake corners rest and on my pitted aluminum intake water outlet. no leaks either, except the oil drain plug, but thats another story.
sean
sean
Last edited by 59Fguy; Jul 4, 2004 at 12:04 PM. Reason: misspelling
