Gasket Sealant

Maintenance advice to keep your Spider in shape.
Post Reply
124Germ

Gasket Sealant

Post by 124Germ »

I know there are a few other threads about which sealant to use for particular areas, but......I picked up a few different things today from the parts store. I am changing my timing belt and water pump out and have heard that some of this sealant will do wonders along with the paper gasket that came with the pump. I will also be changing out my intake and carb too.

Below are the items I picked up today:

Image

Now for my questions:
1. which one to use with the water pump paper gasket?
2. Which one for the T adapter between the cam gears?
3. Which one for the Intake manifold gasket?
4 do I need ot use any of these with the gasket between the carb and intake?

Sorry for all the questions, but tying to cover everything at once.

Thanks for all the help......boy do I need it too..
Jeremy
Don't know if it matters but the car is a 72 1608 motor.
User avatar
bradartigue
Posts: 2183
Joined: Thu Sep 20, 2007 2:35 pm
Your car is a: 1970 Sport Spider
Location: Atlanta, GA

Re: Gasket Sealant

Post by bradartigue »

From your other post on the topic I replied as:

I've never used sealant on anything on a FIAT coolant system. I soak my gaskets in engine oil (clean oil) and install them to the proper torque. Easy and done. If you clean your surfaces and use the correct torques then you won't have a problem. If you insist on using it, use a tiny bead and keep it to the exterior half of the gasket. Understand that a 1mm bead of RTV, when put under a gasket that is torqued, is going to spread out to about 4mm wide. Your gasket is maybe 6mm wide. I've seen guys use RTV like they're sealing a bathtub, and they pat themselves on the back because they wipe it clean...but inside that crap is all in your cooling system, your radiator, etc.
Fi8spider
Posts: 378
Joined: Sat Jan 03, 2009 7:12 am
Your car is a: 1974 Fiat 124 Spider

Re: Gasket Sealant

Post by Fi8spider »

Hi 124Germ, It's been near 20 years since I pulled the bottom end on mine to sort some damage. I spent a few nights with solvent and slowly razoring old gasket glue off every surface that the previous owner/repairer so liberally applied. Checking every gallery and orifice I could get into to see if it was clagged up with any old bits of stray goop.

I use only spray hylomar on a couple joints, a little around the water gallery on the intake manifold gasket and the heater pipe gasket to the water pump gets a little spray too. None used anywhere else on the motor, I'm a soaker. No leaks over the years except for cam seals which I sorted a couple years back.

Just a few months ago I had to pull the head on my 128 and I used some spray gasket stripper to budge the stubborn bits of old gaskets off, good stuff that.
124Germ

Re: Gasket Sealant

Post by 124Germ »

Brad,
can you explain a little more about how you soak your gaskets before installing them? Any worry about getting oil in the coolant system due to soaking them?

I've never heard of this and am very curious to learn more about it.

Thanks
Jeremy
User avatar
4uall
Posts: 4145
Joined: Mon Sep 26, 2011 12:09 pm
Your car is a: 1980 Fiat Pininfarina Spider 2000 F.I.
Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Re: Gasket Sealant

Post by 4uall »

Jay

Fiona
1980 FI 2000 Spider
ITZEBTZE

https://goo.gl/photos/eNKaX7hrXhBu9fmp6

FINN (FN-2187)
2014 Jeep Wrangler Sport
MYTHERPY
majicwrench

Re: Gasket Sealant

Post by majicwrench »

Jay, that link takes me to a discussion of rope seals???

I've been doin this a long time, and can't recall soaking gaskets in oil. But always looking forward to a new trick....
I do use sealer from time to time, tis good stuff used properly and sparingly.
I have some stuff in a can like that HIgh tack, I think it is avaiation sealer, it's brown and can be brushed on gaskets. I use that as much as anything.

Silicone is THE most misused product there is.
htchevyii
Patron 2022
Patron 2022
Posts: 1807
Joined: Thu Jan 17, 2008 9:31 pm
Your car is a: 1982 Spider hers 1972 Spider his
Location: Hydesville, CA (NorCal)

Re: Gasket Sealant

Post by htchevyii »

The Hylomar works very good as a dressing for cork and paper gaskets, that is what it is made for.
Trey
Image
1982 SPIDER 2000, 1964 CHEVYII, 1969 Chevy Nova, 2005 DODGE RAM, 1988 Jeep Comanche
1972 Spider, 78 Spider rat racer 57 f-100,
User avatar
bradartigue
Posts: 2183
Joined: Thu Sep 20, 2007 2:35 pm
Your car is a: 1970 Sport Spider
Location: Atlanta, GA

Re: Gasket Sealant

Post by bradartigue »

124Germ wrote:Brad,
can you explain a little more about how you soak your gaskets before installing them? Any worry about getting oil in the coolant system due to soaking them?

I've never heard of this and am very curious to learn more about it.

Thanks
Jeremy

Just another old engine builder thing, I probably read it in a book twenty years ago, but it works for me. Simply put some engine oil (like 10w40) in a container and put the gasket in it before you install. Let it drip-off (or wipe it off) and go. The oil makes the gasket somewhat more elastic is all. The tiny amount of oil won't amount to anything in your cooling system.
124Germ

Re: Gasket Sealant

Post by 124Germ »

okay, great...I'm all about old school methods that really work. I would assume that the little bit of oil on the gasket will help keep it in place while mounting the part.

Thanks
Jeremy
majicwrench

Re: Gasket Sealant

Post by majicwrench »

Don't assume. Many gaskets are designed to soak up whatever they are sealing so they swell a bit, and thus seal better. I would not soak mine in oil ( it happens all by itself once installed) , but we all listen to diff music.
Keith
User avatar
bradartigue
Posts: 2183
Joined: Thu Sep 20, 2007 2:35 pm
Your car is a: 1970 Sport Spider
Location: Atlanta, GA

Re: Gasket Sealant

Post by bradartigue »

124Germ wrote:okay, great...I'm all about old school methods that really work. I would assume that the little bit of oil on the gasket will help keep it in place while mounting the part.

Thanks
Jeremy

Ha - that may very well be why it is done. It certainly does help. There are all kinds of old school methods that I like but probably don't make that much or any difference. I like to lap valves, for example, though most people tell me I'm wasting my time, I don't have valve sealing issues, ever. Does lapping help? No idea. Don't really want to know, it just is part of the ritual.
124Germ

Re: Gasket Sealant

Post by 124Germ »

This is my first time working on the motor and am trying to do it right the first time and not having to pull it all apart again because I missed something or assembled it wrong.
User avatar
bradartigue
Posts: 2183
Joined: Thu Sep 20, 2007 2:35 pm
Your car is a: 1970 Sport Spider
Location: Atlanta, GA

Re: Gasket Sealant

Post by bradartigue »

124Germ wrote:This is my first time working on the motor and am trying to do it right the first time and not having to pull it all apart again because I missed something or assembled it wrong.
Well, it may happen, but the TC isn't a hard motor to work on, and if you measure twice and assemble once you'll be fine. For many things there isn't a right way per se; for example, you can oil or not oil a gasket and it will still work. You can use gasket sealant correctly or not use it, and it will still seal if your surfaces are clean. It's all in how you want to do things.
fredguaz
Posts: 124
Joined: Fri Aug 23, 2013 2:28 pm
Your car is a: 1977 Fiat Spider
Location: Lake Norman, NC

Re: Gasket Sealant

Post by fredguaz »

Working on motorcycles I use grease to coat the gasket.
It helps hold it in place and have had good results.
I think it needs to be stated stronger the key is good quality
gaskets and a clean mating surface. Sometimes old material can
be like concrete and you need to take the time
to clean spotless. Also if able, sandpaper and plate glass
to fix warpage of part is important.
Fred
Lake Norman, NC

1977 Fiat Spider (current project)
1977 Triumph Bonneville 750 (previous project)
1971 Honda CT-70 K0
1972 Honda CT-70 K1
1990 GMC S-15 Jimmy (Daily driver)
htchevyii
Patron 2022
Patron 2022
Posts: 1807
Joined: Thu Jan 17, 2008 9:31 pm
Your car is a: 1982 Spider hers 1972 Spider his
Location: Hydesville, CA (NorCal)

Re: Gasket Sealant

Post by htchevyii »

A book that my dad has about MGB's says to coat the gaskets with grease. Since they all seem to leak, I don't know if that is good or bad?
Trey
Image
1982 SPIDER 2000, 1964 CHEVYII, 1969 Chevy Nova, 2005 DODGE RAM, 1988 Jeep Comanche
1972 Spider, 78 Spider rat racer 57 f-100,
Post Reply