I built a few engines with an old timer way back in the day. He used to spray the head gaskets with chrome paint before installing them. Presumably it improved sealing particularly around the water passages. I've done it with every motor I've built since then, I never really questioned it. It's occurred to me that materials today may be better than than they used to be and if it served any purpose back then, it may be unnecessary today. I'm just wondering if anyone else has ever heard of this or done it?
We used to use the copper spray. Now with all the different materials in gaskets we tend not to anymore. Some gaskets are composite(multiple materials) and paints have materials in them that can soften some gasket materials.
I built a few engines with an old timer way back in the day. He used to spray the head gaskets with chrome paint before installing them. Presumably it improved sealing particularly around the water passages. I've done it with every motor I've built since then, I never really questioned it. It's occurred to me that materials today may be better than than they used to be and if it served any purpose back then, it may be unnecessary today. I'm just wondering if anyone else has ever heard of this or done it?
Yes I've heard of it from my neighbor when I was a kid, late 60's. I never tried it but I always used "see link" on my head gaskets and never had a problem. And I'm talking about 65-67 GTO's. When time came to pull the heads I could remove all head-bolts and crank the engine over and never blow the heads off the block.
------------------ "Kilgore Trout once wrote a short story which was a dialogue between two pieces of yeast. They were discussing the possible purposes of life as they ate sugar and suffocated in their own excrement. Because of their limited intelligence, they never came close to guessing that they were making champagne." - Kurt Vonnegut
Since I go back to the old flat head days, I've used a lot of High Tac. The newer engines with all the aluminum are different animals. One thing I did learn is that spray is a must on Perkins engines. The gaskets say install dry, but without the spray they WILL leak oil.
One thing I did learn is that spray is a must on Perkins engines. .
I would say it is engine type, but logic says it is the gasket type. IE a well made gasket won't leak.
When it comes to the 60deg V6 I have never used spray and never had one leak or had any problems with the head gaskets. And I lost count on how many I have done. Or any duke I rebuilt either for that matter.
But for any sealant I have always heard of the indian head or the copper, never chrome, as chrome spray is no where near real chrome and sounds like a bunch of snake oil to me, IE not that it didn't leak because of it, but it didn't leak in spite of it.
Yes I've heard of it from my neighbor when I was a kid, late 60's. I never tried it but I always used "see link" on my head gaskets and never had a problem. And I'm talking about 65-67 GTO's. When time came to pull the heads I could remove all head-bolts and crank the engine over and never blow the heads off the block.
Yeah, I remember using gasket shellac. That's going back a ways. I remember trying to remove gaskets that had been sealed with that stuff. Next to impossible to remove.
the new head gaskets are much better and don't need to be treated. If you get the good ones with the metal liner around the cylinder, they are strong unless you boost the engine and then you want copper
[This message has been edited by Arns85GT (edited 02-28-2015).]
Using Wrong kind or Any sealer can cause head and other gaskets to fail. Fel-Pro Printoseal and PermaDry gaskets and some others hate added sealers.
Sometimes you can use High Tack on unprinted side of Printoseal to keep gasket in place when you start bolts etc.
------------------ Dr. Ian Malcolm: Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should. (Jurassic Park)