I would appreciate someone giving me some guidlines on gaskets. I'm replacing a few of them on my 235 and I'm still not sure how to decide whether or not to use gasket sealer. I have the service manual, but of course products have changed, and there are a myriad of things to choose from. Other threads in this forum talk about specific sealers or gaskets, but I guess I'd like to get some schoolin' on a more general level. For example, would you always use a sealer on cork gaskets? If so, do you always put it on both sides? Does your decision matter if the joint being sealed is subjected to pressure? Does it matter if the fluid being sealed is oil-based (engine oil) or water based (coolant)?
I know I'm probably thinking about things too much, but I'm trying to understand the thought process so I can make good decisions in the future, rather than asking a question for each and every situation I encounter, or relying 100% on guidance from a manual that is 50+ years old.
Right now I have a tube of Permatex RTV 26B (red), and I'm scratching my head... should I put it on my pushrod cover? Doesn't seem like it should be necessary. What about the timing cover gasket? Maybe, as it seems like that area would be under more pressure. And the oil pan? Hmm..
In cases where sealer is "optional", it seems like you gain the ability to stick the gasket for ease of installation at the price of having to scrape the mating surfaces clean if you have to remove it in the future.
Some engineer (or marketing person) decided that there was a specific need for a huge range of products:
Example 1 Example 2, so perhaps I need to start reading up!
Somebody bring me in to the light!!
