Head gasket sealant?

[paulbell6]

Hi all, just getting ready to batten down the hatches on the cylinder heads for which i have new extra thick BGA gaskets with the red perimeter seal on them, should I be putting any sort of additional sealant on to the gasket faces? Also when applying copper slip to the head bolts and studs should it be only applied onto the plain shanks, or do the threads need it as well?

Many thanks as ever

Paul

[milothedog]

Hi all, just getting ready to batten down the hatches on the cylinder heads for which i have new extra thick BGA gaskets with the red perimeter seal on them, should I be putting any sort of additional sealant on to the gasket faces? Also when applying copper slip to the head bolts and studs should it be only applied onto the plain shanks, or do the threads need it as well?

Many thanks as ever

Paul

Hi Paul, don't use any additional sealants with the Head Gaskets, it's not needed. I personally would not use Copper slip as it tends to harden with heat and can make things more difficult to undo in this type of application.

We run nearly 2000 vehicles at work and only use it for brake pads etc as an anti squeal agent.

Ian

[stag8manod]

Hi Paul, I agree with Ian, Don't use Copa-slip. Use a light coating of Chesterton Nicklel Anti-seize on the shanks and leave the threads clean or a very light smear of oil.

Cheers Ian A

[Ian Durrant]

Hi Paul, I agree with Ian, Don't use Copa-slip. Use a light coating of Chesterton Nicklel Anti-seize on the shanks and leave the threads clean or a very light smear of oil.

Cheers Ian A

This would be my advice too, nickel based anti seize will help, a copper based one on a mixed metal engine *can* make things worse over time.
Ian

[paulbell6]

Thanks for that guys, I am a bit suprized about the copper slip, but I will take your advice and try and get some Chesterton Nickel anti seize stuff, I am sure eBay will throw it up.
Thanks once again

Paul

[GDPR]

Never had a problem with Copaslip.... and I have used it on head studs.... for over 30 years......

[staginhiding]

I also coppaslip studs and also wellseal in any slightly pitted areas of the heads for my peace of mind..

[milothedog]

Copper slip is still a good product but we have found (at work, 5000 vehicles in the company fleet and nearly 2000 of them in London) it to actually cause automatic brake adjusters to seize on Volvo Z cam brakes and we also identified some years back that using it on wheel studs was causing problems because the extra friction when tightening was giving false wheel torque readings and wheel nuts were working loose.

I know this all applies to heavy vehicles working in hard / extreme conditions but for me it's enough to convince me that it's application has it's limits and there are more superior / suitable products available nowadays. I only use it now for the back of brake pads etc.

Ian.

[DJT]

Copper based grease is excellent on head bolts and studs, but only a smear is needed. NEVER use it on threads where torque is critical. It reduces friction and you can over tighten the fastener.

Dave

[stag8manod]

Hi, Further to my earlier post. We found Copper-cote had its limits under high pressure steam and temperature. The Nickel anti-seize didn't cause and problems. Rocol also do a similar product to Chesterton.
Cheers Ian A

[paulbell6]

Thanks guys, I have some Chesterton anti seize stuff winging it's way from eBay as we speak.

Regards

Paul

[73stagman]

I know this is late but we use Copper slip on oil field end threads that are tightened at 35 to 45 thousand foot pound! If we dont use buckets full on each thread they dont undo when we need them too later. Temperature up to 150C are common. We flood the joints with mud at over 3000 psi from the outside and they all stay dry! HOWEVER..... when we are tightening the threads that actually see the hydraulic oil on the inside we steer well clear of copper slip and use MolyCote as it is more oil friendly...
We stock the copper slip (dope we call it) in 25kg drums. and the moly in 1 kg tins. We go through them at a fair rate of knots!

[DJT]

I know this is late but we use Copper slip on oil field end threads that are tightened at 35 to 45 thousand foot pound! If we dont use buckets full on each thread they dont undo when we need them too later. Temperature up to 150C are common. We flood the joints with mud at over 3000 psi from the outside and they all stay dry! HOWEVER..... when we are tightening the threads that actually see the hydraulic oil on the inside we steer well clear of copper slip and use MolyCote as it is more oil friendly...
We stock the copper slip (dope we call it) in 25kg drums. and the moly in 1 kg tins. We go through them at a fair rate of knots!

Hi Neil,
In the part of the North Sea I work, Copper based grease was banned for use on torqued threads several years ago for the reason stated. HP pipeline flanges weren't being tightened properly with it. They now use Molykote which doesn't distort torque readings.
We haven't had a drilling team on our platform for several years, but I'm sure that the 'dope' they used wasn't copper-based either. I hope to be retired before they return..............

Dave

[Firept]

Try using :- http://www.forwardchem.com/power.html Hi Tempreze ( no connection etc) so far found this to be good stuff.

Paul.

[jbuckl]

I have also found copperslip hardened on a stag stud, making it worse not better.

Hi Paul, don't use any additional sealants with the Head Gaskets, it's not needed. I personally would not use Copper slip as it tends to harden with heat and can make things more difficult to undo in this type of application.

We run nearly 2000 vehicles at work and only use it for brake pads etc as an anti squeal agent.

Ian