Sealing an oil exchanging cavity gasket

[Safari]

After experiencing the difficulty of finding N.L.A. gaskets for my old MercruiserII leg, I have a statement and question.<br /><br />I found a gasket for an exorbitant price and not wishing to go through that experience again, decided to buy a sheet of gasket material and make some duplicates for future use. I installed the new gasket(sealed it with 3M weatherstriping seal), pressure tested and found a leak in yet another oil seal. Then I had to separate the two sections again. In doing so I found the 3M worked very well indeed, ---too well! I destroyed my new gasket in the process. Cutting new gaskets with an Exacto blade is time consuming and I don't like doing it. I might have to take these two sections of the leg apart again and am looking for a way to not destroy this second gasket.<br /><br />My question is, can I get away with applying grease to both sides of the gasket then put the two sections back together? Or, should I seal one side only of the gasket? Or,do I need to, yes indeed, seal both sides.<br /><br />You folks have been very helpfull in the past and I am looking forward to your suggestions.

 

[tommays]

Re: Sealing an oil exchanging cavity gasket

Sarari<br /><br />most people seam to fing that silicon sealers cause problems anywere when its below the waterline it seams to be able to get a galvinac reaction going<br /><br />merc perfect seal seams to work very well and will not cause problems but would also damage the gasket if you need to take it apart<br /><br />reuseing a gasket is a bad idea anyway they really only seal well one time you may or may not get lucky the second <br /><br />grease really does not have any long term sealing ablity<br /><br />tommays

 

[trog100]

Re: Sealing an oil exchanging cavity gasket

in theory gaskets should only be used once and if the mating surfaces are good should not need any sealant.. mostly they get some just in case..<br /><br />in a perfect world when u take something apart the gasket stays nicely stuck to one side and comes cleanly away from the other without any damage.. if it dosnt it needs replaceing..<br /><br />if u plan on taking something apart several times u can arrange this ideal world situation by useing sticky gasket sealant on one side and just a smear of grease on the other.. it u intend it to stay together for ever just gunge it up with any old none soluble sh-it and forget it.. he he<br /><br />i think mostly gasket sealant used wrongly can do more harm than good.. or at least as much..<br /><br />shadetree theory this by the way.. not professional..<br /><br />trog100<br /><br />ps.. silicone in tubes is a much overrated and over-used product.. very good for sealing round your bath-tub but not much good for anything else..

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Sealing an oil exchanging cavity gasket

gotta agree with ya here Trog

 

[Buttanic]

Re: Sealing an oil exchanging cavity gasket

Try Permatex Hylomar HPF. It won't stick everything together but it will seal it. It's the best sealent I have ever used for parts that need to be taken apart frequently without destroying the gasket.