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Date:         Tue, 14 Nov 1995 09:31:40 -0400
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         smitht@jupiter.sun.csd.unb.ca (Tim Smith)
Subject:      Re: New Head Gasket Stud Kit From Raceware

At 07:28 PM 11/13/95 -0600, brad wrote: >>For all I know, it is worth it. I wonder if this means Raceware allows you >>to increase the torque even further beyond the new higher torque specs issue >>by the factory to stab at the head gasket leak problem. >>

This sounds like crap to me. Overtighten a 2mm thick rubber gasket against two aluminium pieces and it will simply extrude. Next time you find an O-ring seal check out how well the seal is 'encapsulauted' by a deep groove and close fitting lid. This keeps the seal from being shot out under pressure, say by your brake fluid. Rubber or any compliant gaskets are to be avoided like the plague when used in a corrosive environment. They lead to crevice corossion in which pockets of fluid are created next to the metal. The local concentrations of electrolytes cause galvanic corrosion cells to be set up, leading to pitting.

A real fix to this problem would be the use of hard gaskets, that don't compress so much. Higher clampling pressures become possible, thinner stiff gaskets prevent the crevice formation. Isn't this how it's done in all other vehicles. Has anyone broken a non-rusty stud off yet?, $229 to raceware for a standard build engine seems pointless. And it isn't rusty studs that have caused my heads to leak, it's corroded sealing faces. Snake oil I say, at ten times the price of Slick-50 no less. Tim Smith


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