Head gasket installation

JIMB2020

MEMBER
1996 FORD ASPIRE
1.3L
4 CYL
2WD
AUTOMATIC
140,000 MILES

I coated both sides of the new head gasket with Permatex high heat copper gasket sealant and made sure the mating surfaces were spec clean and dry. However, I had kept the cam shaft and rocker arms areas soaked in engine oil and forgot to make sure that the head cylinder isn't going to drip oil on the surfaces as I was installing it. Unfortunately, that was exactly what happened. I placed the head bolts and tightened them, and now I am thinking I should remove and reinstall the head after making sure the head gasket is clear of oil, re-cleaned and re-coated. What do you think? I mean can few drops of oil on the head gasket affect how it performs? Can the oil get trapped, get hot and damage the gasket later on down the road?

Tuesday, September 1st, 2020 AT 10:44 AM

5 Replies

ASEMASTER6371

MECHANIC
52,797 POSTS

Good afternoon,

Yes, remove it but not for that reason.

You never coat the gasket with anything at all. That alone will result in a head gasket failure as there is no room for movement.

The head moves ever so slightly when it is hot and the gasket has to give as well. You sealing it will keep the gasket solid and it will fail very shortly after installation.

You use no sealant what so ever when installing the head.

Make sure you use only new head bolts as well. That is all you need to do for the installation.

Roy

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Tuesday, September 1st, 2020 AT 12:26 PM

JIMB2020

MEMBER
106 POSTS

Roy, thank you for the info. I was instructed to "spray" the head gasket with "high temperature copper Permatex sealant" on both surfaces of the head gasket, to wait until the solvent evaporated and then assemble the head and block. I removed the head, and I examined the head gasket and mating surfaces. The video clip below shows how badly damaged the gasket was after just three hours. I don't understand why- I didn't even start the engine? The seals around the holes were stripped clean, the edges of the gasket became jagged (serrations as though a sharp serrated knife). I am wondering if some of the cleaning solution I used to clean the mating surfaces with remained on the surfaces and caused all this mess. I already got a new gasket, and at the moment am making sure the mating surfaces are dry and clean with no residues of any kind. But the Permatex High Temperature Copper Spray was recommended by a number of people- I guess not (I really have never used it before, but I figured it could help if an old gasket was being residue). I am installing a new one without any additional spray (just as is).

Video (Click to make bigger)