Oil Pan Gasket Dilemma

U

ursus

Well-known member
I just laid some probably 40 year old cork oil pan gaskets on a "B" block and was surprised to see them about one inch short overall, likely due to shrinkage. I recall some advice to soak such dried and shrunken cork gaskets in water to rehydrate them back to spec. Is this advisable or should I toss them?

My previous exercise in replacing an oil pan involved paper gaskets that required enlarging some of the bolt holes because they were punched in the wrong places. Can anybody recommend a properly sized brand of pan gaskets? Thanks much!
 
Soak in SAE30 oil.


Or what you have handy. It's not like there will be a large transfer of oil between the gasket and the oil pan.


Joe K
 
my father taught me to soak cork gaskets in warm water to bring them back to size. use a pan big enough to lay them flat while soaking. its worked for 65 years.
 
Just today I had to soak some gaskets in water to get them back to size.

I would try water on your pan gaskets first before I would consider using oil.

My opinion,

Chris W.
 
I've seen cork gaskets soaked in water too long and they became oversized, so be careful if/when soaking in water.
 
Will N said:
Off topic, but related. Anyone remember the Saturday Night Live skit about cork soaking?
Click to expand...

Off color euphemism.

My fear in using water would be for the gasket to "rust" to the mating metal parts. Maybe not a problem since so many gasket "attach" by virtue of compression between the metal parts, but I work very hard to remove rust - not create more.

Joe K
 
katy said:
I've seen cork gaskets soaked in water too long and they became oversized, so be careful if/when soaking in water.
Click to expand...

katy's cautionary post prompted me to check the gaskets that had been marinating in a pan of water. After 16 hours they had miraculously swollen to the proper dimensions!
 
Last edited:
katy said:
I've seen cork gaskets soaked in water too long and they became oversized, so be careful if/when soaking in water.
Click to expand...

katy's cautionary comment prompted me to check on the gaskets that had marinated overnight in a pan of water. After 16 hours they had miraculously swelled up to the proper dimensions!
 
Regarding rust from a wet gasket. You just need to pat them dry with rags or paper towels. Once the engine warms up the remaining moisture will evaporate. If you use a light smear of gasket cement it will isolate the moisture in the gasket and protect the steel and cast iron surfaces.
 
Joe K said:
Off color euphemism.

My fear in using water would be for the gasket to "rust" to the mating metal parts. Maybe not a problem since so many gasket "attach" by virtue of compression between the metal parts, but I work very hard to remove rust - not create more.

Joe K
Click to expand...

Not even an issue worth mentioning for several reasons.
 
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