The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Permatex Super 300 gasket sealant 80057

I stopped in at O'Reilly's the other day to pick up some of the Super 300 gasket sealant. They didn't have any in stock but the fellow there (known him years) said he'd get it delivered to the store for me. But while we were talking he looked online and said "oops...well, we show we only have 2 of those left in Texas...one in Lubbock and one in Lufkin. A note from HQ says we've been told that part number can't be ordered and it has been replaced by 80019 Aviation Form-A-Gasket Number 3. But it costs $1 less and we have that in stock." He added as a side comment their gasket/sealing line was changing quickly with most of the stuff now being RTV junk.

I found some on Amazon and eBay. Bought it on Amazon...sold by a third party seller (slow delivery). A card included with the product said the seller specializes in discontinued and obsolete parts. Was a bit less than $12 shipped to me and based on this I'll buy another while some is still out there.

Just a heads-up for those who prefer this formula. Also it appears VersaChem (also owned by ITW) has been combined with Permatex. They have their own line of non-hardening paste sealers. Not bad stuff but not like the old Permatex form-a-gasket at all.

Just checked with the NAPA store near me and the fellow said they didn't have any and hadn't had it in stock for a while. Checked other NAPA stores in DFW and said "no dice." Zoro shows as discontinued, also.

Various NAPA stores (using their website, which may not mean anything) near me have it available, most saying "ship to store for pickup May 6", some saying "pickup in 30 minutes" and another saying "not available".
It's listed for $9.69. Maybe being kinda remote, it's old stock of a discontinued product, but Permatex's website still lists it, and the "buy online" option takes you to O'Reilly or Advance Auto. Checking O'Reilly's website local stores say "available within 2-3 days".

What is it that you like about the Super 300?

I still have about half a tube of Permatex No 2. It's probably 30 years old.

I think I had to get mine through Amazon last time I bought.

Super 300 was developed in the 1950s to resist aviation gasoline and work in other high stress environments. 3D or 3H brush-on liquid is NOT the same stuff- - - -not even in the same ball park, let alone the same game! I'm going to need to stock up, it seems. Nothing else on the market that I've used in the past 40 years can beat it for convenience and sealing ability. Thanks for the heads-up!
Jerry

Sorry...had to take care of "stuff" here. There's a good answer above, Kevin. This may be like the question regarding the 3M 08509 windshield sealer. The 3M product was great and the CR Laurence product is okay. Some folks on other forums (particularly paint/body shop forums) have been very explicit on what they think of the CRL stuff, but I won't repeat it here.

Please understand I've used the Permatex Aviation sealer since at least 1978 and there is nothing wrong with it. It will work very well...as long as you take time to get to know that product and what it can and will do. In some cases I consider it better. In fact I just used it to seal the front plate and camshaft gear cover on a 235. I have also sealed differential covers this same way with great success.

Here is what I've learned...it performs differently. I took the gaskets outside in the hot sun, painted them with the sealer (first one side and then later turned them over and did the other), let them sit on a piece of cardboard in the sun for about an hour. Repeat if needed. If you do this, you'll see the gaskets (fiber type only...not cork) become completely saturated and will be sticky. The front plate of the 235 as you might know needs to be sealed really well or over time it will leak. Vibration, movement, oil from the cam gear oiler channel, etc isn't a friend and there aren't quite enough screws securing it (in my opinion). Sealed in this fashion I've learned it will not leak for decades. Same with a differential cover. Those things (especially if you live down here) will dribble unless you get them sealed just right. Soak fiber gaskets all the way through and your rear end will be tight and dry.

What I've learned about the Super 300 is that if you use it on something like a side valve lifter cover you can remove it by letting the engine get to operating temperature, removing the screws and gently working it away from the block. Then you can usually clean the gasket well with acetone or lacquer thinner and re-use it.

Instead of ruining the good old products from the past I'd rather see them get rid of some of the stinking RTV crap. Why do they need a rainbow of different colors of it to begin with?

Aviation perma goo is fuel proof too. The problem with all those similar products is they can be cleaned off with alcohol including Super 300.

One thing we don't need to be concerned about on our old rigs is the fact that the acetic acid (vinegar smell) that's present in most RTV products can "poison" O2 sensors on modern vehicles equipped with them if the vapors get into the exhaust stream. There are RTV products labeled "O2 sensor safe" that don't contain acetic acid as a curing agent. Just a "heads-up" for folks who also work on the newfangled vehicles!
Jerry

Amen to that. How many colors/ flavors of RTV could we possibly need?