Hi Double v,
Years ago I used copper coat on head gaskets,
today I don't use anything, I use the gaskets just
as they come right out of the box, & so-far I've
had no problems, & when I disassembled the engine
this time (it's still apart) the gaskets looked as if they could be used again.
Take care,
Rich

 

I always thought that the composition head gaskets of today came precoated..and anything else would interfere with that pre applied sealant.

That's what it always said on the papers that came with the gaskets that I bought. I try to use felpro blueline.


I use gask-a-cinch on the copper head gaskets that I use on my shovelhead, and it seems to work ok. Like Richard Stewart said, coppercoat used to be used, and I even used silver spraypaint on some of the copper ones that I used on my 2 stroke motorcycles..(silver is full of aluminum...fills the gaps better)

I was always told to never use any sealant on precoated composition headgaskets. I do wash the deck and head with laquer thinner or brakeclean followed by acetone before I assemble the head on to make sure that the surfaces are clean as they can be.


Later, mikey

 

Some factory MLS head gaskets I have seen do require the use of a spray sealant for proper installation.

 

For the last several engines that I have built I used Felpro blue coated head gaskets as they came, the blue coating is the sealer. If I were to build something that required very thin uncoated steel shim gaskets then I would used a spray sealer.....but I would have to find out what is the latest offering.

 

Just wondering if you guys are for, or against, spraying High Tack on the head gaskets before installing them.

On the one hand the manufacturers don't mention it and it may affect uniformity in the head gasket.

On the other hand extra sealing is never a bad idea.

Also high tack makes removal much more difficult/ time consuming.

What do you think?

Sticky stuff whether put there by the gasket manufacturer or the engine assembler is there to cover the contingency that the machined surfaces aren't sufficiently flat or parallel. Even if they are, the tack will provide a little protection from in service warpage and some minor fastener clamping force loss.

How good or bad the situation is or could be, will determine if you use none or coat the surfaces with elephant snot.

Bogie

 

That kind of reinforces the thoughts I was having about todays head gaskets not requiring any thing but torque to properly seal.

I don't personally use anything, but some people "in the know" say they have never had one leak because they use the stuff.

I think that this may be one of those things that was eliminated by new technology in head gaskets but got carried over anyways.

 

i spray the gaskets with a THIN coat of Copper Coat, never had a problem. Buddy of mine assembled his small block with a "name brand" set of head gaskets & no sealer.......leaked.


I'm not sayin, i'm just sayin.....

 

First off, it would depend on the gasket itself - copper, copper w/seal, mls, or say, steel shim. On the shim I'd use Hi Tack, or beter yet, Hylomar. Hylomar is probably better suited to those gaskets not of the shim variety, IMO. Of course, if the mfr specifically states not to use anything, why would you, unless for some kind of band aid fix. If all surfaces are properly prepared and the clamping forces of the headbolts/studs is adequate, any sealer is just extra - as in extra money. Some gaskets allow the head surface to 'move' and any sealant that is glue-like will not allow such a thing. On some applications, using a 'sealer' isn't a bad thing, if used properly. As always, JMO.

 

First off, it would depend on the gasket itself - copper, copper w/seal, mls, or say, steel shim. On the shim I'd use Hi Tack, or beter yet, Hylomar. Hylomar is probably better suited to those gaskets not of the shim variety, IMO. Of course, if the mfr specifically states not to use anything, why would you, unless for some kind of band aid fix. If all surfaces are properly prepared and the clamping forces of the headbolts/studs is adequate, any sealer is just extra - as in extra money. Some gaskets allow the head surface to 'move' and any sealant that is glue-like will not allow such a thing. On some applications, using a 'sealer' isn't a bad thing, if used properly. As always, JMO.

I too have had great luck with Hylomar. Spendy stuff but it sealed up a gasket on a 5.9 liter diesel pushing 60lbs of boost when the O-rings and three previous headgaskets failed. I wouldn't use it on a mild engine with permatorque gaskets or something of that sort but it does have it's uses. Copper coat was great with the steel shims as with the aluminum spray paint but I stay away from copper coat on modern print-o-seal headgaskets as I believe it lowers the performance of the gasket and does not allow it to work as it's intended to. JMHO!