brad8266

iTrader: (23)

Should I spray my new Cometic MLS gaskets with Permatex or are they ok as is?

Sudz

iTrader: (3)

NO! torque them down as they are, if you spray anything on there that can change the torque spec, and uneven surface against the block/head, dont read what dumbasses post on here like copper spray and **** like that.

brad8266

iTrader: (23)

Thanks, I asked because I hear that **** here but the directions that came with the gaskets say do it dry. Figured id ask anyway.

SteveDoten@ARH

does any shop spray Cometics? I still can't figure out where this idea comes from; spend a buck plus on gaskets? spend the 230 on arp studs as well

ArcticZ28

iTrader: (14)

Well, I'm a "dumbass" who has sprayed all three sets of mine and has never had a leak. I'm not quite sure how spraying copper gasket on them makes things uneven, but alright. I guess if you are severely retarded and you emptied a complete can of permatex on one of the corners and nowhere else, then yea, that would cause something uneven (to include something uneven in your brain). Plenty of people spray them and it's no rocket science. You don't HAVE to spray them, but it's good insurance IMO. The ones you read about that have issues fall into two groups: 1) their head/deck surface wasn't clean/true enough to cause good seal (so much so that the copper spray gasket could not help it), or 2) their head/deck surface wasn't clean/true enough to cause a good seal (and they didn't use copper spray gasket).

brad8266

iTrader: (23)

Well i will be spraying a 300 shot and dont want a leak, to permatex or not to permatex, that is the question.

If I did it I was only gonna spray a super thin coat on, just enough to fill in the tiny swirls from when i cleaned the decks off.

koolrayz

iTrader: (26)

I guess I am also a dumass who has sprayed them with adhesive never had one leak.
If using the adhesive is such a BAD idea them why do the new felpro MLS gaskets come with an adhesive on them? These gaskets come from the factory with an adhesive coating on the outside then are covered with a non stick paper just like a sticker.

JRracing

iTrader: (35)

The gaskets are good the way they are. I would never spray anything on them. Unless stated in the directions.

brad8266

iTrader: (23)

Straight from Cometics website:

Why does Cometic recommend MLS gaskets to be installed dry?

Cometic Multi-Layer Steel (MLS) head gaskets go on dry because they are coated with a sealant. Each MLS head gasket is coated with a .001" thick viton rubber that is bonded to the outer stainless steel layers. Adding an additional sealer can hinder the performance of an MLS head gasket.

JRracing

iTrader: (35)

Right on brad. I have my new cometic .040" MLS gaskets sitting here next to me. They have a black coating on them. I will post some pics of them on my thread and a copy of the directions.

brad8266

iTrader: (23)

I have mine here too, im gonna go look at them in a second.

ArcticZ28

iTrader: (14)

You gotta take all that info in stride. The bottom line is that plenty of people spray them, and plenty don't. It's a personal preference. If you are feeling good about putting them on dry, then do it. To me, a light coat of copper spray is cheap insurance to keep the chances of them leaking to a minimum, regardless of what the website says. More people have problems with them leaking dry vs. them leaking with a coat of permatex. I just personally wouldn't be able to spend all that time putting my engine back together only to find that the head gaskets are leaking because I didn't take an extra minute to play it safe and lightly coat them. Then again, it could all go together seemlessly. Just gotta decide what you feel comfortable with and whether you consider it a risk.

JRracing

iTrader: (35)

brad8266

iTrader: (23)

And that was another thing I was trying to get to.

silverZ98

iTrader: (6)

i copper coated mine, no problems, learn ot use the search and read and you will see more ppl use the copper spray than dry

JRracing

iTrader: (35)

Is that really better than dry?

ArcticZ28

iTrader: (14)

There is no way to definitively say spraying them is better than dry. You just have to go with the statistics of people having problems with them with vs. without spraying them.

John02SS

iTrader: (47)

Some of the folks that installed dry have some leaking for the coolant. Alot of us "Dumbass" installers hit them with a light coat of cooper to help seal the coolant. We aren't dipping the things, just a light coat to help seal up the water. The main goal of a cometic is to seal the cyclinder under extreme conditions and it does dry or sprayed. Several of us "Dumbass" guys do it for a living and have seen what works and doesn't.

redtail2426

iTrader: (10)

i used a light coat on mine as my block was not freshly decked and i could see a couple small areas on the deck surface that was not perfectly flat,with some slight discoloration.So i used a light coat of copper spray and it doesnt leak a drop.