Cork gasket

[firerod]

I just bought a cork side cover gasket. Do I put this on dry or use permatex?

 

[Dennis L Oberer]

I have always used the cork with a very light coating of gasket cement and never a leak.

However once you try to remove the side cover (in the future) it breaks up/tears the gasket usually.

I glue the gasket to the cover with all the bolts poking through and then GENTLY install it as an assembly. A very light application of the cement will not squeeze out and ruin your nice painted engine finish.

The real care is those doggone ring gaskets and the copper washers that hold the oil drain pipe in place.

I get more leaks there than the side cover.

And as long as we are on the subject of gaskets...I have used the more expensive copper/sandwich gaskets on the two water connections and NEVER cracked a housing.

I do check the housing faces on a glass plate and emery cloth to ensure total flatness however before installing.

Dennis L Oberer
Green Bay WI

 

[Bob A.]

I just bought a cork side cover gasket. Do I put this on dry or use permatex?

Whenever I used real cork gaskets, I soak them in water for awhile. On all the gaskets that I use that need some kind of sealer, I only put the sealer on one side (not the engine side). The engine side I just smear some grease. This way it's easy to clean off when the part is taken off or replaced. worked for me for over 45 years.

 

[Kevin - Illinois]

It depends on what type of cork gasket you bought. The one I got from Snyders was like their pan gasket and requires no sealer.

 

[firerod]

It is the one from Snyders. Thanks for the response guys.