Do you use a sealant with your gaskets

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Myxr6turbo
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Do you use a sealant with your gaskets

Post by Myxr6turbo » Thu Oct 14, 2021 10:42 pm

Do you use and sealants with your gaskets when putting the engine back together?

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KWTownsend
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Re: Do you use a sealant with your gaskets

Post by KWTownsend » Thu Oct 14, 2021 11:13 pm

Permatex #2


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Myxr6turbo
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Re: Do you use a sealant with your gaskets

Post by Myxr6turbo » Thu Oct 14, 2021 11:30 pm

Perfect. Thank you.

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Steve Jelf
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Re: Do you use a sealant with your gaskets

Post by Steve Jelf » Fri Oct 15, 2021 12:29 am

Some folks brag on The Right Stuff, but it's the wrong stuff for me. I'm slow, and it begins to set up before I'm ready. I prefer Ultra Black. In places where I may need to undo the installation (inspection covers, oil screen, water inlet & outlet, valve covers) I grease the stationary metal (hogshead, engine block) so that when I remove the movable part the gasket will remain intact so I don't have to scrape it off and replace it.
The inevitable often happens.
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Myxr6turbo
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Re: Do you use a sealant with your gaskets

Post by Myxr6turbo » Fri Oct 15, 2021 2:28 am

So there is no real need to use a sealant to "help" the gasket not leak its more about using the gaskets again?


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Myxr6turbo
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Re: Do you use a sealant with your gaskets

Post by Myxr6turbo » Fri Oct 15, 2021 2:29 am

So there is no real need to use a sealant to "help" the gasket not leak its more about using the gaskets again?

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Re: Do you use a sealant with your gaskets

Post by BE_ZERO_BE » Fri Oct 15, 2021 4:21 am

+1 for Keith (Permatex #2)
Respectfully Submitted,
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I drive a Model T ... Microseconds don't matter :D

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Re: Do you use a sealant with your gaskets

Post by Humblej » Fri Oct 15, 2021 7:15 am

#2 non hardening, gaskets, radiator hoses, everything but a head gasket.

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Re: Do you use a sealant with your gaskets

Post by Steve Jelf » Fri Oct 15, 2021 9:34 am

So there is no real need to use a sealant to "help" the gasket not leak its more about using the gaskets again?

Of course the sealant is to help the gasket seal. You can use it with or without greasing one surface. You can make it a permanent reusable gasket, or you can spend time and money scraping off the old gasket and replacing it every time, whichever you prefer.
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Re: Do you use a sealant with your gaskets

Post by TXGOAT2 » Fri Oct 15, 2021 10:19 am

It depends on the application, the condition of the surfaces, the need for periodic disassembly, and the material the gasket is made of. Some original equipment gasket joints are known to be troublesome, and use of modern gasket sealers can improve the performance of such problem areas.


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Re: Do you use a sealant with your gaskets

Post by Norman Kling » Fri Oct 15, 2021 11:01 am

I like to use sealant on all the oil or water containg surfaces except the head gasket. And even on the head in small areas where there is a known leak. If the leak is very great, I have the head re-surfaced and then do not use any sealer. On crankcase or inspection plates, I use sealer on one side of the gasket just to fill in areas which might be bent slightly between the bolts. It will also hold the gasket in place so that I can reuse if necessary. I like Ultra Black.
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Re: Do you use a sealant with your gaskets.

Post by jiminbartow » Fri Oct 15, 2021 12:00 pm

Over many years, the bolts and nuts holding pressed steel flanges to cast iron part have been over tightened, causing the pressed steel flanges to distort, such as the oil pan and transmission cover, valve cover, bottom oil pan cover and bendix cover. This results in the holes fitting tightly against eachother while the areas between the holes are like shallow ditches that a gasket cannot completely seal. If you do not have your pan trued up on a pan jig, you will need sealant to seal the flanges between the holes. Even with a trued pan, sealant is a good idea in case you overtighten the bolts and nuts and recreate the conditions mentioned above.

I’m one of those that prefers “The Right Stuff”. I just feel it is the best. I’m not fast… as a matter of fact, I am verrrryyyy slow and methodical, but I discovered that doing one side of each gasket at a time and bolting it tight against the opposing dry flange (protected by wax paper) and allowing the one side to cure overnight before unbolting and doing the other side, gets around the problem of the sealant curing before the application and aligning process is completed. Also, the one dry side with wax paper allows you to easily slide the one side around to quickly align it without distorting, wrinkling, folding up or ripping the delicate gasket as often happens when both sides are slathered with sealant. When done, I get an almost perfect, leak free seal. I use the “Permatex”spray-on copper seal for both sides of the head gasket. Several have mentioned that they do not apply sealant to the machined side which is okay, if the surface was just resurfaced, but one does not always choose to have their block resurfaced and I have never heard of anyone resurfacing the underside surfaces if the block of hogshead where it meets the pan. I believe it is always a good idea to do both sides of all gaskets, even if the one surface is machined because as old as the Model T is, even a machined surface is often pock marked with rust pits which, if not sealed, can eventually be an avenue of escape for oil or, water, in the case of the block and head. Jim Patrick

PS. Also pictured is also is 90 Minute “Right Stuff”…


A5C984BE-D813-4CEF-8C99-F328DCACF4A7.jpeg
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FBFBA54F-D054-472B-A31B-2555E0861323.jpeg
Last edited by jiminbartow on Fri Oct 15, 2021 12:27 pm, edited 7 times in total.

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Re: Do you use a sealant with your gaskets

Post by TonyB » Fri Oct 15, 2021 12:03 pm

It depends on the surface being sealed. Very often I don’t use sealant on a machined surface. So the gasket between the pan and block I will only use sealant on the pan side. It’s a judgement call, if both surfaces are in poor condition, then goop on both side. But if the conditions are good, then only on the none machined side. Usually the two water connection on the block are in what I call poor condition so both sides get goop
I mention goop as a generic term, normally I use black silicon seal.
On the copper asbestos gasket between the head and block, I use the copper spray.
Last edited by TonyB on Sun Oct 17, 2021 10:40 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Do you use a sealant with your gaskets

Post by SurfCityGene » Fri Oct 15, 2021 1:02 pm

I don't like oil or coolant leaks.
Permatex makes some excellent products. One I prefer is the Ultra Black because of it's longer working before setting up. Many places I use it without any gaskets except if needed for alignment.

Over time I have found Ultra Black to be useful for many other applications like to mend a tear on a leather seat or top material. Great for sealing a water freeze leak on the block. Perfect adhesive when installing a modern oil seal to the front crank shaft preventing that troublesome drip that then blows back under the rest of the car coating it with oil. Seems like I discover a new one everyday when a strong flexible adhesive is needed.

Beware, not all Black silicone type sealants are the same.
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Myxr6turbo
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Re: Do you use a sealant with your gaskets

Post by Myxr6turbo » Fri Oct 15, 2021 4:30 pm

Thank you so much everyone. That was so much help. I have looked in our local store. We don't have "the right stuff" we do have #2 and the ultra black. Do I need both or will 1 be ok for all surfaces? This a 1920 engine and nothing has or will been machined and at the moment it's totally stripped. I may need to pull it apart later but I'm hoping not 🤞


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Re: Do you use a sealant with your gaskets

Post by speedytinc » Fri Oct 15, 2021 4:47 pm

Ultra black's 95% of the time. 5% hi tack for hogs head gaskets to pan. (gaskets wont slip during maneuvering)
Have not used #2.

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