Cylinder Head Gasket Cement

[LastLeg]

I just removed my cylinder head for the second time in 2 hours, it turned out that the head was bad. My real question is... Should I use high temperature sealant (red gasket cement).

I noticed when removing the recently installed head that the sealant found its way and obstructed the passage ways in the head. I excercised extreme care when applying the cement. Perhaps the cement is not necessary?

[hanleyclifford]

Most of the advice I have heard on this forum is against the use of gasket sealer on the A4 cylinder head. No sealer can compensate for a "bad" cylinder head. A cylinder head out of plane by .001" or .002" might be usable with cement temporarily but I would not trust it for a long run.

[ndutton]

Have to agree with HC.:eek:
I'm not the motorhead knuckle buster as some around here but I've never known of a head gasket requiring or benefiting from sealant of any kind. In fact, just the opposite. In my experience, head gaskets are supposed to be installed dry.

[Dave Neptune]

The headgasket is designed to use dry for the most part. If you use anything and I personally suggest you do. My suggestion is to use a bit of Permatex Aviation grade aroung the stud holes and on the "EDGES" of the water jacket sealing areas.
It will help to get it apart next time in 10~15 years if your lucky.

Dave Neptune:cool:

[LastLeg]

Thanks for the feedback guys!

[rigspelt]

From Don's instructions for installing gaskets: "Except where noted, gaskets should be installed dry (without sealer) including the head gaskets."
http://www.moyermarine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1736
http://www.moyermarine.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=308&d=1185274616

In this post http://www.moyermarine.com//forums/showthread.php?t=1845 he said: "...reference to an earlier newsletter predates the availability of the excellent Victor steel reinforced graphite gaskets. Between the time that asbestos head gaskets were banned for environmental reasons in the late 1970's and the availability of Victor gaskets in the early 1990's, head gaskets for the Atomic 4 were produced of very poor materials (actually a paper product) and sealer was usually recommended for those gaskets. If you're following our recommendation to use our Victor steel reinforced graphite gaskets, then you should use them dry, as Victor recommends. In the event you are using head gaskets of some other manufacturer, you would have to follow their recommendations regarding sealer."