Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[kevin2306]

Will be in a position to rebuild the cooling system on my vogue early next week.
I have new gaskets and hoses/clips to make things easier and hopefully reliable.
on rebuild, what do you use as sealant?
I have some hylomar blue and I have some rtv silicone.
Seems both are suitable but is there any experience out there in forum land?

kev

[Phil - Nottingham]

I avoid RTV like the plague unless nothing else will work or a particularly strange gasket cannot be had or hand made. This because even little strings of this horrible stuff can squeeze inside and block water/oilways

Blue Hylomar or Red Hermatite are my favourites where facings may be less than perfect otherwise I just grease paper (and copper) gaskets most of the time. Composite ones must be used dry
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Rover P2
Rover P4
Rover P5 & P5B
Land Rover S2 & S3
Morris Mini Traveller Mk2

[JohnDale]

Hi Kev,as Phil says sealer only if absolutely necessary - only grease on new paper or cork,cheers,JD.
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1958 Ford Zephyr Mk2 Convertible
1976 Ford Granada Ghia.

[kevin2306]

i agree about the rtv, thats why ive still got an unused tube
you have answered my query by default, i was going to use grease on the gaskets but wasnt 100% sure if i had remembered correctly in my old age:)

kev

[Jonv8]

There is nothing to fear from silicone based gasket sealants,many engines are now leak free in production because the gaskets have been replaced by it.But ONLY if its used properly.I run a Land Rover garage so I tend to use what LR recommend.Some of the products they specify may be expensive,but are very good,very little is needed.
I think the reason so many shy away from these products is twofold,firstly some of the early ones were just rubbish.Secondly inexperienced people just used far too much of it and blocked oilways etc.
I used to do warranty work on Kubota diesel engines,on the rare occasion I took them apart you HAD to put a very thin smear of their goo on the gaskets or they would leak oil.It was this that made me realise how useful it was.My 1950 350 AJS engine will be put together with modern sealants - very carefully,I don't expect any problems OR leaks.

[Inglewood]

For cooling system applications I used 'water pump' grease on gaskets, it is water repellent and works well.

[Phil - Nottingham]

I fully agree about smearing the right quantity on but if you can avoid it do so
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Rover P2
Rover P4
Rover P5 & P5B
Land Rover S2 & S3
Morris Mini Traveller Mk2

[Ashley]

Wellseal and Hylomar are from WW2 and Hermetite a cheap alternative.

This is 2013, nearly 2014, so time to catch up!

I recommend Loctite Grey part number 5699. It is good enough to seal a 1mm deviation in a metal surface, it's a miracle substance, yet easy to remove and does no harm if it fills the oil pump.