Date: Mon, 3 Jan 2005 06:35:35 EST
Reply-To: RAlanen@AOL.COM
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Frank Condelli <RAlanen@AOL.COM>
Subject: Re: put goo on gaskets or not?
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
In a message dated 02/01/2005 8:44:30 PM Eastern Standard Time,
LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM writes:
i take it that you enjoy cleaning unnecessary glue from engine when
repairing them? German gaskets and proper torque is all thats needed. Glue
just makes the gasket slide and possibly not seal. Not to mention the fact
that it really sucks to remove later.
AND, those gaskets that are installed dry and become baked to the aluminium
surface and have to be removed with a gasket scraper or razor blade insuring
damage of the aluminium surface is better ? Silicon sealant is not glue it
will not be difficult to remove, in fact most times it will come away with the
gasket or O-ring and what ever is left will peel off easily with a light
rubbing with your finger. Sealant oozing out of mating surfaces is just a show
of the installers paranoia by using way too much of the sealant. A very
light tack coat is all that's needed. Another old time trick is to coat the
gasket with engine oil before installing. This will soften the gasket somewhat,
insure a tight seal and make it easy to remove when the time comes. I've
done both and now favour the silicon method as the grey one for aluminium
surfaces insures that no corrosion will take place there. If you need to
disassemble for any reason it's very easy and leaves a good clean surface to put
things back together.
Cheers,
Frank Condelli
Almonte, Ontario, Canada
_BusFusion_ (http://members.aol.com/BusFusion/bfhome.htm) a VW Camper
camping event, Almonte, ON, June 09 ~ 12, 2005
'87 Westy, '90 Carat & Lionel Trains
Member: _Vanagon List_ (http://www.vanagon.com/) , _LiMBO_
(http://www.bcn.net/~limbo/) , _IWCCC_ (http://www.westfalia.qc.ca/) & _CCVWC_
(http://www.ccvwc.ca/)
Vanagon/Vanagon Westfalia Service in the Ottawa Valley
_STEBRO/Vanagon Stainless Steel Mufflers_
(http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/stebro.htm)
_Frank Condelli & Associates_ (http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/busindex.html)
or http://frankcondelli.com
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