SEALS, GASKETS & SEALANTS

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Installing
Seals
and Gaskets
OBJECTIVES
Identify common gaskets and seals
Properly install common engine gaskets
including cylinder head & valve cover
gaskets.
Properly install typical lip seals.

PURPOSE OF A GASKET
Purpose of a Gasket
To confine; gas, oil, water, vacuum or exhaust

Seal out foreign objects such as; Dirt, Water

Must withstand heat, cold, pressure, erosion,
corrosion, moisture and oil
GASKET MATERIALS
Gasket Materials
synthetic rubber
cork-rubber
embossed steel (Corrugated)
paper

GASKET MATERIALS
cork-rubber
synthetic rubber
GASKET MATERIALS
embossed steel (Corrugated)
paper
WHAT CAUSES LEAKS
Causes of leakage,
Worn or damaged seals
Worn or damaged gaskets
Worn or bent parts or shafts
Fasteners over tighten or to loose
wrong parts or gaskets
nicks or burrs
Improper installation

When Replacing gaskets ask yourself ,
"Why did this gasket fail"
List different things to look for.
Did the gasket fail suddenly or over a period
of time?
Check the Torque
is it to Tight
is it to Loose
Gasket Replacement
Check for warp is the valve cover bent
or the bolt holes pulled through
Do both surfaces match up
Examine the gasket very close, are the
holes in the same spot

Gasket Replacement
If you just replace the gasket it may go
out again. Clean off all of the old
gasket. Clean and dry the parts, Use
sealer if needed. Tighten in steps

Also some Bolts need to be checked
for torque for example some head
gaskets need to be retorqued when
using some gaskets check the
manufactures instructions.
Gasket Replacement
Torque to yield (TTY) bolts are used in
many engines today, they need to be
replaced. When installing them you need
to have them clean and oiled then tighten
to manufactures preload setting. Then
tightened them in a series of stages
usually about 90 degrees at a time.
Also never retorque a torque to yield bolt.
They are beyond their elastic range, past
their yield point and will break.
Torque to Yield Bolts
A example would be for a Torque to yield
(TTY) bolt when installing them you would
torque them down to 35 foot pounds then
tighten an additional 70 degrees.
Torque to Yield Bolts
GASKET INSTALLATION
Follow instructions.
Thoroughly clean the mating surface.
Match to old gasket.
Check for proper fit. Right shape, bolt
holes all line up
Never reuse gaskets.
Ask yourself, Do you need Sealer
GASKET INSTALLATION
Use alcohol or brake clean on a clean rag
to wipe the oil off of the gasket surface
Is the surface dry
Tighten in steps
Use the torque pattern when tightening
Torque to proper specs
Use a quality gasket, saving a buck or
two on a cheap gasket is not worth it.
CYLINDER HEAD GASKET
When tightening a cylinder head gasket that is
not torque to Yield it is best to tighten in steps.
How much should you go, my rule of thumb
has been if under 60 lbs. Tighten in 2 steps.
If over 60 lbs. tighten in three steps. For
example if it is to be tighten to 100 foot lbs.
Take it to 35 - 70 100.
Many other bolts are to be tighten in steps
check the specs for the car.
CYLINDER HEAD GASKET
Must be capable of withstanding tremendous
heat and pressure.

CYLINDER HEAD GASKET
Follow gasket makers instructions on whether
or not to use sealant.
What type of sealant and how much? Most
head gaskets do not want any sealant. If you
have an aluminum head and a cast iron block
it will expand at different rates, if you use a
sealant you are going to have a leak.

CYLINDER HEAD GASKET
Run a tap or thread chaser in bolt holes.
Multi-layer steel gasket
CYLINDER HEAD GASKET
Always tighten the bolts in the correct
sequence look at the pattern.
CYLINDER HEAD GASKET
Look at the pattern, starts in the center and
rotates out.
USING STRAIGHTEDGE
Check in several directions what is the specifications?
How much can be taken off?
VALVE COVER GASKETS
Check cover flanges for straightness.
Use load spreaders when available.




Use a sealant only when necessary and
not to much.
VALVE COVER GASKETS
INTAKE MANIFOLD
GASKETS
Steel

Paper
EXHAUST GASKETS
Exhaust Rings called
Exhaust Doughnuts
fiber facing material on one side
and perforated steel on the other.
Fiber surface against the head,
Steel on the manifold.
OIL PAN GASKETS
Rear main seal Molded gaskets oil pan and intake manifold
VALVE STEM SEALS
Deflector seals usually called umbrella seals
that move with the valve and Positive Seals
attach to the valve boss and GM O-rings
VALVE STEM SEALS
umbrella seals
Deflect the oil
valve
VALVE STEM SEALS
Positive Seals attach to the valve guide.
SEALS


We have come along way from the old felt & leather seal.
Most seals today are made of Nitrile. Some Seals are made of
Viton, Silicone, or Polyacrylics. For more information on
what seals are made of go to the CR website to find out.
The first job of the seal is to keep the oil in and the dirt out
but it can also be used to separate fluids and to with stand
different pressures. Proper installation and inspection is very
important

SEALS


Seals can be
1. Spring-loaded
2. Springless
3. Single-lip
4. Multi-lip
SEALS


SKF New web site
SEALS
A. The flexible material component of the seal which produces the
lip. In this design there is only one lip, the primary sealing lip.
B. The outer shell of the seal holds the seal in place.
C. The garter spring (found in most seal designs) is a coiled wire
spring that provides a controlled radial load over time.


Inspect the shaft that the seal rides on
it might be bent or damaged. You
may have to install a sleeve or clean
up with crocus cloth or replace with a
new part
SEAL INSTALLATION
SEAL INSTALLATION
Install with lip (and garter spring) toward
liquid.
Lubricate lip before installation.
Use sealant on the outside of steel seals.
Use a seal installer.
Check out the power point on seals
and seal failures


Speedi-Sleeve shaft repair
Clean and measure the diameter of the
worn shaft
Speedi-Sleeve shaft repair
Place the sleeve on the shaft then put
on the installation tool
Speedi-Sleeve shaft repair
Hammer or press the sleeve onto the
shaft far enough to cover the worn area
USING SEALANTS
Use proper sealant for application.
Do not use a sealant unless specified in
service manual or by gasket manufacturer.
Types of sealants
Hard drying like 3M Weatherstripping or a
glue to keep a gasket in place
Aerobic (RTV)cures when exposed to air
Anaerobic cure after the components are put
together (Thread lockers)
Aerobic (RTV)
RTV - Room Temperature Vulcanizing
called Silicone Sealant
Replaces most gaskets
forms a rubber seal by absorbing moisture
in the air
Sets in about ten minutes Dries in about 2
hours fully cures in 24 hours.
Cure times will vary with Temperature,
Humidity, and size of the gap
Aerobic (RTV)
Blue is the most common color but also
comes in Black, gray, bronze,clear, red
and white(white is for the bathroom)
Aerobic (RTV)
Make sure that it is O2 Sensor safe if
used around the engine
Do not use around Gasoline
Clean and dry surface before using
When using around bolt holes go all the
way around the hole.
Thread lockers
Anaerobic cures after the components
are put together
Use on screws up to Purple

# 242 Able to Remove up to 3/4" Bolts Blue

# 271 High Strength Hard to Remove up to 1" Dia. Red

# 290 Wicking Grade for Preassembled Parts Green
# could be different due to size of bottle
Purple Thread lockers
Low strength
Use on screws up to
Applied BEFORE Assembly
Carburetors, relay locks,
headlamps, throttle body
assembly, choke
assembly and fuel
injection set screws, body
panel mounting fasteners
Blue Thread lockers
Medium Strength for all bolts or
larger
Able to Remove with hand tools
Prevents parts from loosening from
vibration
Protects threads from corrosion
Recommend for valve cover
bolts,rocker arm nuts, carburetor
studs, motorcycle, jet skis
snowmobiles etc.
Applied BEFORE Assembly
Red Thread lockers
High Strength Hard to Remove
Works well for studs and press
fit
Locks against heavy vibration
Requires extra effort to remove
or special tools like heat
OEM specified as 271
Applied BEFORE
Assembly
Green Thread lockers
Wicking Grade for
Pre-assembled Parts
Use on Calibration and
adjustment screws
Applied AFTER Assembly
OEM specified as 290

There is also a Green High
Strength for sleeves
Thread / Pipe Sealant
Thread Sealant for metal
tapered pipe threads and
fittings replaces teflon tape
Suggested applications
Stainless steel fittings, head
bolts into through holes (water
Jacket), oil PSI sending
units/sensors, oil and coolant
lines, intake manifold switches,
rear axle fill plug, fuel fittings

Teflon Tape
Prevents leaks Just wrap
tape around threads
Use on stainless,
aluminum, plastic, iron,
copper, or brass.
O-Rings
O-rings come in several sizes the most
common standard sizes are
1/16, 3/32, 1/8, 3/16, 1/4
O-Rings
O-Rings come in several shapes an O
being the most common but you can
find others in D shape, Square-ring and
a modified X.
O-Rings also come in different types of
materials make sure what you are using
is compatible with the fluid it is next to.
The End
For this little leak
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Thanks to Federal Mogul for some of the pictures and