Head Gasket Sealer

[jkpulley]

I am putting the head back on my 1098 and would like some suggestions for a gasket sealer for the head to block area. Also, which side, or both, do you prefer applying sealant to? Thanks in advance!
c ya,
jp

 

[dklawson]

None. Ever.

I have never used sealant on head gaskets and I don't believe you're supposed to. This is particularly true of the black Payen brand gaskets for A-series engines. The gasket has its own coating already applied and that is supposed to soften and flow a bit to provide additional sealing to the already squished material.

 

[spritenut]

I agree, I never used any sealant on a head gasket.

 

[asoupley]

I have used that bronze colored spray gasket from Auto Zone... it is made for head gaskets. Seems to be working great.

 

[Sportsdoc]

Just put my head back on my 1098. Did not use any sealer with the new gasket.
The factory manual and Haynes specifically say not to use anything except a new gasket.

 

[Hap Waldrop]

On a copper gasket , you seal them with the copper gasket spray, Permatex Hitack spray or I even know folks that use silver paint. On the composite gaskets they can go on dry, but the racer in me won't let me do that, because when the composite gaskets are put on dry they stick to head and block so hard, if and when you change it you would have to scrape the gasket off with a putty knife, so I use Hi Tack on them as well, its really not needed, unless you need o take the gasket back off easliy (which racers do). Bottom line the copper or metal gaskets (like Cometic) need a sealer, the composite gaskets do not, but if you choose to use one, it will seal fine. Hey, if it works for me on 15 to 1 race engine it should work on a street motor. We started coating composite head gaskets years ago on the 1275 race cars when we were using the Metro Turbo head gaskets, they were like almost $200 a piece, and could be reused atleast 3 times, if you could keep the composite material from sticking to the head when you disassembled. It was a pretty common practice among the SCCA FP and GT5 guys because the cost and availabilty issues with the Metro turbo head gasket

 

[DrEntropy]

We started coating composite head gaskets years ago on the 1275 race cars when we were using the Metro Turbo head gaskets, they were like almost $200 a piece, and could be reused atleast 3 times, if you could keep the composite material from sticking to the head when you disassembled.

I'm speechless. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/laugh.gif /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/bow.gif

 

[dklawson]

So, on composite gaskets, not needed but acceptable, and use Permatex Hitack. I'll remember that. Thanks Hap.

 

[Hap Waldrop]

We started coating composite head gaskets years ago on the 1275 race cars when we were using the Metro Turbo head gaskets, they were like almost $200 a piece, and could be reused atleast 3 times, if you could keep the composite material from sticking to the head when you disassembled.

I'm speechless. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/laugh.gif /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/bow.gif

YOu be surprised what you fiind out when desparation sets in /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif It's pretty common to re-use a head gasket on a race engine, it norally has been there very long. Head gasket wizardry is pretty common when you're dealing with high compression, on the 948 and 1098 race engines, it's pretty common to carefully lift the fire ring on the top of the copper head gaskets and stuff .025-.03" copper wire in the there ans then fold back down the fire ring, gives the gakst extra bite around the cylinders for thew high compression 918s where 16 to 1 is common, but some folks have even built engines as high as 18 to 1, it sounds so crazy, it almost sounds like a big fat lie doesn't it, but it's true.

 

[Hap Waldrop]

We started coating composite head gaskets years ago on the 1275 race cars when we were using the Metro Turbo head gaskets, It's pretty common to re-use a head gasket on a race engine, it normally hasn't been there very long. Head gasket wizardry is pretty common when you're dealing with high compression, on the 948 and 1098 race engines, it's pretty common to carefully lift the fire ring on the top of the copper head gaskets and stuff .025-.030" copper wire in the there and then fold back down the fire ring, gives the gakst extra bite around the cylinders