head gasket sealers

I've been researching this a lot today, and there are some varying opinions. Some say use copper kote, others say use aluminum paint (several coats). Some say coat metal side only, others say coat both sides. Does it really matter? What say ye?

My first trip down this road. TIA

Patrick
'49M
 
Depends solely on your opinion. I used copper coat on my last 3 tractors, silicon on the first one due to the insistence of the machinest. None leak. Copper coat is the easiest to use and works as good as any. Do both sides. Common sense and the proper torqueing is the answer.
 
My machinist said to use copper coat on the metal side only. If there are two metal sides use it on both. Silver/gold paint is the old school method and I have read where a lot of people like it. I doubt you could tell the difference between gold paint and copper coat when you go to take things apart. Remember to retorque. That is a lot more important than any sealant.
 
My machinist said to use nothing, he has rebuilt thousands of engines and had no issues, if properly torqued he said it should be no issue. He told me that the older gaskets needed copper coat but these modern ones sandwich nicely if torqued correctly. It's been a year and I have zero leaks. ~Anthony
 
(quoted from post at 21:18:54 07/30/13) My machinist said to use nothing, he has rebuilt thousands of engines and had no issues, if properly torqued he said it should be no issue. He told me that the older gaskets needed copper coat but these modern ones sandwich nicely if torqued correctly. It's been a year and I have zero leaks. ~Anthony

I done the head on mine last year and the gasket was stamped "sealer required, re-torque required", this was a Fel-pro gasket
 
It all depends on the gasket and mat. that the gskt. is made of . If it is one of then JUNK Permatorqu Fel Pro then no you use nothing but ya had best cross your fingers and toes and do ten hale marys and hope it don't leak . I myself prefer Victor gskt. and then i use copper coat and have for a half century . Plum hate doing a job over.
 
I slather it good with Indian Head gasket sealer. I remember dad using that stuff on the 66 Ford pickup. If it worked for dad it works for me.
 
I use copper coat on them if the head and block are cleaned up real good and a new gasket. But I have used more then one used head gasket over the years and when I do I use the paint trick and used 6 coats both sides on my BA
 
If instructions are on the gasket or packaging materials I follow them Do use or don't. If no instructions copper coat both sides, and wait until it looses its tack to the touch. Jim
 
I guess I will "chime in" here also.


Plain bare steel gasket OR any composite gasket,steel,paper combo WITH OUT sealer on it(like an old McCord or Victor.) K&W Copper coat both sides or the aluminum paint trick.


Fel Pro Perma torq blue gaskets, NOTHING .


ULTRA high compression race/drag engines WITH water jackets: Copper head gasket with o ring and wire in the block, receiver groove cut in the head. Then, "Yama bond" sealer(Yamaha engine sealer) around EVERY water port in head and block. Then get it together QUICKLY and torque in 3 stages.

NO water jackets in block/heads,skip the Yamabond stuff.

I dont like doing this one. :(


Just thought I would "add" that last one for fun! ;)
 
BTW,the coppercoat/aluminum paint has NOTHING,nada,ZERO, to do with sealing the cylinders ,(Thats totally the job of the wire rings in the gasket)

The sealers are used to seal up the water and oil ports from the block to the head.

(Probably stating the obvious, But............)
 

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