Thread: Sealing the head gasket options

Are you certain that the block is pitted Or is it that the gasket has adhered to the block?
If the gasket has adhered to the block then all you will have to do is clean it up hopefully .
There are some products that you can use to "Fill" the pot marks as well, usually 2 part ali putty .

That's possible. I'll have to have a good look. If something has adhered it is aluminium. I've tried scratching it off with a finger nail, but felt solid. I'll try a scotch brite pad.

If I use a putty will I be able to get it perfectly flat? Do you know anyone who has done this?

why not Hylomar?

and the compression gas has caused the gasket to flutter pitting the head? seriously? wow...
how long has this been going on for?

as for flatness, only a mill will do that.
and if you go to that extent,, why not mill the pits out?

get some razor blades and use them t scrap the surface clean
if its pitted is it on the ring that seals the combustion chamber to the block or behind it where its not really doing a lot?
you if your worried you could try putting some areldite to fill the holes then sand it back flat once hard.

unless the gasket comes with a coating on it i always put hylomar on them and even gaskets that have coatings on vehicles know for head gasket issues ill put hylomar on over the gasket glue on the gasket just for extra insurance

for the bolts to comes loose id say they reused the head bolts or the head was not sitting flat on the block when done up

Originally Posted by lyonsy

get some razor blades and use them t scrap the surface clean
if its pitted is it on the ring that seals the combustion chamber to the block or behind it where its not really doing a lot?
you if your worried you could try putting some areldite to fill the holes then sand it back flat once hard.

unless the gasket comes with a coating on it i always put hylomar on them and even gaskets that have coatings on vehicles know for head gasket issues ill put hylomar on over the gasket glue on the gasket just for extra insurance

for the bolts to comes loose id say they reused the head bolts or the head was not sitting flat on the block when done up

Interesting on the Hylomar topic. I have always been told not to used sealant on head gaskets. personally I don't like Hylomar anyway, have had a few failures where it is stated by LR to use. Find Three Bond products much better, but a lot more expensive.

What about this one? Blue Devil Head Gasket Sealant (32 oz.) - BLU38386

Originally Posted by CraigE

Interesting on the Hylomar topic. I have always been told not to used sealant on head gaskets. personally I don't like Hylomar anyway, have had a few failures where it is stated by LR to use. Find Three Bond products much better, but a lot more expensive.

I was told by the cometic guy I purchased the mls gaskets from to use hylomar,,

got poo poo'd something firece on here when i mentioned I'd used it,,

The proof is in the pudding as they say,,,

I actually have a lot of time for 3 Bond too

A guy who served his apprenticeship under Harry firth in the race car shop told me they used Araldite to seal head gaskets. He said they lightly smeared the mating surfaces with light oil so the assembly was no glued together. The purpose of the thick layer of Araldite was to fill voids where water or gases may get through and cause gasket failure.

Sounded drastic to me but he assured it was their normal practice and it worked. Knowing Firth's cunning and reputation, it must have been a working safe solution.