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engine gaskets
Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 10:40 pm
by aupickup
about to put new front and back plate gaskets on
do i fit them dry or with gasket sealer
all thoughts welcome
many thanks
Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 10:44 pm
by alex_holden
I wouldn't fit them completely dry. I used sealant but a smear of grease on both sides would probably be fine too.
Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 10:54 pm
by aupickup
thank you
Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2008 12:11 am
by bmcecosse
NO sealant!!!! BMC didn't use any - why would you ? A liitle wipe of grease to hold them in place if you like - but really, you DO NOT need sealant!
Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2008 6:20 pm
by aupickup
many thanks to all
Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2008 6:40 pm
by alex_holden
bmcecosse wrote:NO sealant!!!! BMC didn't use any - why would you ?
WHY not!!!!!!!!! ;)
It doesn't do any harm and reduces the chance of oil leakage at minimal cost.
Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2008 7:40 pm
by aupickup
ah thas why the moggie engine leaked NO SEALANT
Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2008 11:12 pm
by bmcecosse
Sealant looks pathetic - professional rebuilder would never use sealant ! Clean flat surfaces and new gaskets = no leaks.
Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2008 11:27 pm
by alex_holden
bmcecosse wrote:Clean flat surfaces and new gaskets = no leaks.
Sure, that will be why 1960s British engines have such a brilliant reputation for not leaking...
Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2008 11:30 pm
by bmcecosse
They didn't leak at the gaskets! Seriously - sealant is a sign of sloppy workmanship - don't use it!
Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2008 4:06 pm
by IslipMinor
I agree with the general statement of no sealant, but there are 4 places where I do use sealant on an A-Series engine:
Water pump between the pump and the gasket
Rocker cover between the cover and the gasket
Timing cover between the cover and the gasket
Sump between the sump itself and the gasket
Why? Because the surfaces are not machined and need a little bit of help to seal reliably. On the other side of those gaskets I use a liberal smear of grease, and on all the other gaskets I use grease on both sides (none are fitted dry, except obviously a non-copper head gasket and the manifold gasket).
Using grease gives two things, helps to bed the gasket properly and very easy dis-assembly if required - no more levering and scraping old gaskets off (and into the engine!!)
Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2008 9:28 pm
by bmcecosse
I only use a little grease - although I do 'glue' the rocker cover gasket to the cover - so it can be used over and over again.
Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2008 10:03 pm
by les
Seriously - sealant is a sign of sloppy workmanship - don't use it!
Arh to be so confident in ones self. I spend a lot of time wondering!!
Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2008 10:07 pm
by bmcecosse
Indeed. Takes years of practice and experience!
Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2008 10:13 pm
by les
Yes wondering about things doesn't come naturally to some!