Date:         Tue, 6 Mar 2001 10:11:17 EST
Reply-To:     Rico Sapolich <JKrevnov@AOL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Rico Sapolich <JKrevnov@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Head gasket sealant
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

In a message dated 3/6/01 6:05:28 AM, RAlanen@AOL.COM writes:

<< I always smear a light coating of the Permatex Copper sealant on

all 0-rings just for security. >>

False security.  Of all the O-rings I have had the pleasure to know in my
life, the only thing I have ever heard of smearing on them is the correct
assembly lube.  If an O-ring fails, either the O-ring or the surface it
contacts is bitched or else it is perished.  If anything, the superfluous
sealant might interfere with the proper operation of the O-ring.  Case in
point: Before I bought one van, some idiot had smeared a dollop of Permatex
Blue on the small O-ringed flanged fitting on the rear of its right head.
This held for a few miles of motoring pleasure until one day it let loose and
turned the engine into a steam generator.  When I removed the flanged
fitting, I found the O-ring pinched between the flange faces and the blue goo
filling all the voids.  The pinched O-ring had also had distorted the plastic
fitting when it was drawn to the head, so, it was useable.  I spun a
replacement flanged adapter out of T-6061 and installed it with a new O-ring
as naked as the day it popped out of the mold.  Now, it is secure.

Rich