Copper Composite Head Gaskets - Sealant or No?

[dklawson]

I am asking this WAY ahead of when I need the info but I am currently buying materials as part of the GT6 engine rebuild.

When I was a kid we put spray gasket sealant on all head gaskets. As an adult I am using coated Payen gaskets a lot and with those you are not supposed to use additional sealant.

However, the only gaskets available for the Mk1 GT6 are copper composites. When I removed the head off our car's engine there was obviously quite a heavy layer of spray sealant on the copper gasket. However, the engine was last rebuilt about... 35 years ago.

What is the current wisdom? Am I correct that with copper composites I do still want to use a spray compound like K&W Copper Coat?

Thanks.

 

[CJD]

I don't use sealants...at least not since the stamped steel gaskets went away.

John

 

[DougF]

My engine shop recommends using a spray sealant on copper gaskets.

 

[Geo Hahn]

I spray on a healthy coat of aluminum spray paint. No idea if that is necessary or helps but have had no problems. I do clean the edge so the bit that shows on the side of the engine is pretty copper.

 

[TR3driver]

I did a lot of experimenting years ago when I was having trouble keeping a copper composite head gasket sealed. Best I could tell, none of the various goops made any difference at all.
My conclusion : If everything is right, it will seal without goop. If something is wrong, goop won't help. Maybe there is a small window between right and wrong; but I've never found it.

 

[hondo402000]

I bet if you skimmed the head and the block and made sure they were 100 percent flat you will have less problems with sealing but I would go with what the manufacture of the gaskets says to do

just My input

Hondo

 

[DanB]

I did use some copper spray permatex on my TR4A composite head gasket when I reused it, now that you mention it. I had forgotten about that, but I did spray that on both surfaces. It has only been about 20+ years, so my memory is a little fuzzy...

Dan B
So. Chas. WV