It’s probably no surprise to you that gaskets come in all different shapes, sizes, and construction—from copper header gaskets to rubber O-rings to the trusty old cork gasket for your diff cover.
But make sure to include liquid gasket makers in that mix too. Whether we’re talking RTV silicone or a specialty anaerobic compound, liquid gasket makers can come in really, really handy when you’re gasketing between two rough or uneven surfaces. In those applications, a typical compression gasket may not create the leak-proof seal you need.
To give you a closer look at some popular liquid gasket maker types (and why they’re so beneficial), Loctite made this handy video. It’ll dive into some of the chemistry behind these gasket makers, and show you a few popular applications.
Even if you’re familiar with this gasketing method, it’s still worth a watch because there may be some new compounds you haven’t seen before. It’s less than four minutes long, so check it out:
For years, even if using a regular gasket, I’ve spread at least a thin layer of “blue glue” (pick whatever color you want) on at least one of the surfaces to be sealed. Just that very thin film of RTV makes it much easier to keep the gasket in place for instalation. I might just have to give the gasket dressing a try next time.
Good call, Mike. For what it’s worth, I’ve used Gasgacinch gasket dressing for similar purposes–just on a smaller scale, when you don’t want to use the heavier RTV as you describe.
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I’ve found it’s particularly handy when you need a small rubber o-ring to stay in a channel, like on a carburetor bowl.