[71 T/A]

Do you all like using Permatex Ultra Blue, Black, Red or some other type sealant?
Have to buy some and was curious as to what you think is best.

[tom s]

I use Hylomar on the intake side.Tom

[Jim Moshier]

Permatex form a gasket.

[PunchT37]

Originally Posted by Jim Moshier

Permatex form a gasket.

Ditto. I use the #2 here.

[Schurkey]

Originally Posted by 71 T/A

Do you all like using Permatex Ultra Blue, Black, Red or some other type sealant? Have to buy some and was curious as to what you think is best.

NOT RTV SILICONE.

RTV Silicone is for REPLACING a gasket, (used instead of a gasket) not for application onto a gasket.

There's a dozen perfectly-good gasket sealers, including but not limited to Gasgacinch, High Tack, Copper Coat, Indian Head, Permatex #1, #2, and #3. Hylomar is top-shelf, but very expensive.

"Best"? I don't know. I don't really care. Any of the ones I've listed--and others as well--are entirely adequate. When it's my money, I lean toward Gasgacinch. In the applications that I've actually used 'em on, Gasgacinch does everything Hylomar does, at 1/10 the price. There may be other applications where Hylomar is required--aerospace, for example.

[Ram Air IV Jack]

Originally Posted by Schurkey

NOT RTV SILICONE.

RTV Silicone is for REPLACING a gasket, (used instead of a gasket) not for application onto a gasket.

There's a dozen perfectly-good gasket sealers, including but not limited to Gasgacinch, High Tack, Copper Coat, Indian Head, Permatex #1, #2, and #3. Hylomar is top-shelf, but very expensive.

"Best"? I don't know. I don't really care. Any of the ones I've listed--and others as well--are entirely adequate. When it's my money, I lean toward Gasgacinch. In the applications that I've actually used 'em on, Gasgacinch does everything Hylomar does, at 1/10 the price. There may be other applications where Hylomar is required--aerospace, for example.

RTV is used all the time on gaskets in various applications. I've personally used Ultra Blue on water pump and timing chain gaskets and Ultra Copper on exhaust manifold gaskets. Great stuff and never an issue!! Stuff says flexible which is a real plus!! To each his own!!!

[Schurkey]

Originally Posted by Ram Air IV Jack

RTV is used all the time on gaskets in various applications. I've personally used Ultra Blue on water pump and timing chain gaskets and Ultra Copper on exhaust manifold gaskets. Great stuff and never an issue!! Stuff says flexible which is a real plus!! To each his own!!!

Yeah, I used to use RTV on gaskets. I thought it worked great...








...And then I started using REAL gasket sealer, and saw how much better it worked.

The gaskets don't squeeze out when the fasteners are tightened, the cleanup when the gaskets are replaced later is easier. And you don't have blue--red--copper--black shiit oozing out from around all the gasketed joints.

I see a lot of gaskets stuck down with "Yellow Death", typically 3M Weatherstrip Adhesive but there's other brands of the same stuff, and some guys use "Black Death", same thing, different color. I'll never use that stuff on a gasket again, either. Sticks the gasket really nice. Cleanup the next time is a total bitch.

[69ARROWHEAD]

I just replaced mine with this new style gasket. Works great, no messy sealer needed.

[dataway]

Originally Posted by 69ARROWHEAD

I just replaced mine with this new style gasket. Works great, no messy sealer needed.

I wish more of these types of modern gaskets were available for vintage stuff. They work tremendously. A bit pricey, but often can be used again and again. Reminds me of modern motorcycle gaskets ... they just plain don't leak. It's a safety issue on a bike, not to mention the exposed engines don't market well if they are covered in leaks.

[chrisp]

Originally Posted by 69ARROWHEAD

I just replaced mine with this new style gasket. Works great, no messy sealer needed.

That is for Chevy , similar but not proper . Most use the Chevy gasket & cry about leaks , use the proper Pontiac gasket & have no leaks.

[tom s]

I changed to Hylomar because of the clean up.I found it to be non hardening and WAY more EZ to clean than any other I have used.FWIW,Tom

[Kenth]

For ruff surfaces Permatex #3 Aviation works fine.
If the housing is bent you may need a new housing or make it flat.

[Half-Inch Stud]

Funny story: I was 16, and did some sort of cooling system repair that weekend. 1982 Monday winter morning; driving my 1968 LeMans to High school, and boom antifreeze steam erupts while 1/2 mile from the school.

Rather exciting for me to see the steam cloud. Upper hose blew off the Radiator inlet. Well lesson here: never apply RTV to radiator hose joints.

[mchell]

Never had a problem using permatex ultra black as a gasket dressing....and mostly what I have handy

https://cdn3.evostore.io/documents/f...82180_spec.pdf

[JSchmitz]

Originally Posted by mchell

Never had a problem using permatex ultra black as a gasket dressing....and mostly what I have handy

https://cdn3.evostore.io/documents/f...82180_spec.pdf

Ultra Black for me too. I put a very thin coat on both sides of water pump gaskets, etc. Thin coat on one side if it's a valve cover or something that is likely to be removed. Never put anything on hose connections. Never even occurred to me. Kinda like people that I've seen put Teflon tape on flare fitting.

[78w72]

Originally Posted by mchell

Never had a problem using permatex ultra black as a gasket dressing....and mostly what I have handy

https://cdn3.evostore.io/documents/f...82180_spec.pdf

x3 on the ultra black, or ultra grey. ive used it on a few motors in the last 10 years or so & it works great & lasts a long time. i use it as a dressing on timing covers, valve covers, valley pans, etc. my machine shop also used it on my milodon oil pan that comes with the older style crappy 3 prong rubber "U" seal in the rear that would not seal after 2 tries. talked with mr P body & he suggested using the 1/4" cork gasket in that location & a liberal coat of ultra black... been holding great after 6 years & lots of street miles, drag strip runs & some dyno pulls. all other gaskets on 3 of my cars are leak free after 8-10 years too.

all the other products mentioned will work too but to claim (modern) RTV shouldnt be used on gaskets is not correct... as posted above, permatex says ultra black/grey can be used as a gasket dresser, meaning a light thin coat on both sides, especially for pitted surfaces.

[JSchmitz]

Originally Posted by 78w72

older style crappy 3 prong rubber "U" seal in the rear that would not seal after 2 tries. talked with mr P body & he suggested using the 1/4" cork gasket in that location & a liberal coat of ultra black

I drew the same conclusion on my own. Had those junk rubber rear pan seals split and leak. Use cork seal and Ultra Black and it will never leak a drop.

[78w72]

Originally Posted by JSchmitz

I drew the same conclusion on my own. Had those junk rubber rear pan seals split and leak. Use cork seal and Ultra Black and it will never leak a drop.

i never had a 3 prong one, used the 5 prong later style on 3 engines that didnt leak... but that older 3 prong one was terrible & not even a professional shop could make it seal, their attempt leaked twice as bad as my initial attempt. finally found the cork gasket procedure & its worked great.

[JSchmitz]

Originally Posted by 78w72

i never had a 3 prong one, used the 5 prong later style on 3 engines that didnt leak... but that older 3 prong one was terrible & not even a professional shop could make it seal, their attempt leaked twice as bad as my initial attempt. finally found the cork gasket procedure & its worked great.

Yep. I'm not sure if it was the material that was bad or if my pan compressed it too much. But it would split terribly.

[dataway]

Before you do anything .... lap the bottom of the housing on something very flat. Same with the intake side if you have a block of metal or something to use.

Most used housings have a bend at the bolt hole ears from years of over tightening. Some new ones have less than perfect machining. And I've seen some OEM intakes with pretty rough machining on the gasket surface.