Water pump gasket sealant?

**Irishman** · #1 11-06-2009, 12:48 PM

Installing a water pump this weekend (not Ferrari). The shop manual says nothing. The instructions with the water pump recommend using a 'tacky sealant' on both sides of the gasket. Recommendation?

**2NA** · #2 11-06-2009, 01:04 PM

Hylomar is a good choice here.

**kaamacat** · #3 11-06-2009, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Irishman

Installing a water pump this weekend (not Ferrari). The shop manual says nothing. The instructions with the water pump recommend using a 'tacky sealant' on both sides of the gasket. Recommendation?

For years I've used the Permatex brush-on red tacky stuff........never had a leak on anything. Comes in a short-fat-round littke white can. (granted it is only used very thin on the surfaces as a tack)

limetime55 · #4 11-06-2009, 01:30 PM

Indian Head Shellac Gasket Compound, 20539 by Permatex
Great stuff

JP365 · #5 11-06-2009, 06:35 PM

Are Yamabond, Hondabond, etc... the same as Hylomar? I know we have our preferred products, but are Yamabond, Hondabond, Permatex, Fel-Pro Pli-a-seal, etc... the same basic formula? A buddy of mine who started with vintage motorcycles then added vintage cars swears that Yamabond is better for applications involving water and gasket seals. Thoughts?

Steve King · #6 11-06-2009, 07:10 PM

I put them on dry. Never had a problem. Same with cam cover gaskets only run my finger with white grease on the head side so when they need to come off there is no problem removing the old material. Only use a touch of blue rtv on the cam seals corners.

**Rifledriver** · #7 11-06-2009, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JP365

Are Yamabond, Hondabond, etc... the same as Hylomar? I know we have our preferred products, but are Yamabond, Hondabond, Permatex, Fel-Pro Pli-a-seal, etc... the same basic formula? A buddy of mine who started with vintage motorcycles then added vintage cars swears that Yamabond is better for applications involving water and gasket seals. Thoughts?

Yamabond and Hondabond are in fact identical products and both are made by 3Bond. Permatex and Hylomar are very different and made by companies of those manes.

You usually cannot go wrong by doing it the way the car manufacturers do unless you have a damaged or pitted casting. I usually try and emulate OE procedure for the particular job unless there are special circumstances.

JP365 · #8 11-06-2009, 08:09 PM

So when would you use Hondabond vs Hylomar or Permatex? In my case I am about to change the thermostat on my 365 GT 2+2 and am debating between these products to help seal the gasket. I have Yambond and Fel Pro Pli-a-seal in hand but should I wait and get Hylomar or Permatex?

**Rifledriver** · #9 11-06-2009, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JP365

So when would you use Hondabond vs Hylomar or Permatex? In my case I am about to change the thermostat on my 365 GT 2+2 and am debating between these products to help seal the gasket. I have Yambond and Fel Pro Pli-a-seal in hand but should I wait and get Hylomar or Permatex?

The use of different sealants is as based on baseless predjudices as motoroil use.

The best thing to do is

A. Determine if you need a sealant. Ferrari did not use any on thermostat housings and if there is no casting damage and you are using good gaskets you shouldn't need to either.

B. If you choose to use a sealant read the bottles and determine which is designed for your need. There is no such thing as one size fits all in gasket sealants.

If you really need one, silicone (RTV) is very well suited to cooling system gaskets where there are casting or gasket issues or requiring the use of a sealant

**saw1998** · #10 11-06-2009, 10:05 PM

Just in case anyone is interested here is the link for the "real" Hylomar, now that Permatex is no longer selling/using the same formulation. One warning, it's expensive (but very good).

Link:http://www.ehylomar.com/

**CliffBeer** · #11 11-06-2009, 10:54 PM

Me personally, I use Permatex Form-A-Gasket on the WP side and leave the engine side dry. Doing so allows the gasket to come off cleanly with the WP when removing the WP down the road - you're not having to scrape gasket material off the engine. Never had a leak. Just my $.02.

**stradaledriver** · #12 11-06-2009, 11:45 PM

and at my shop we would make fun of anyone who used any kind of gasket sealer and would mock them as amateurs or lazy backyard mechanics.

Some newer cars do not use gaskets and only use specialized gasket sealer.

When we did need to use, for whatever reason, some type of sealant we exclusively used a product called "The Right Stuff" which was the best sealer I have ever come across. It can be purchased in tubes or caulking guns.

beast · #13 11-07-2009, 09:16 AM

Most gaskets need to be applied clean and dry. If they don't seal correctly there is damage to the surface that the gasket cannot cover. The surface was not cleaned 100% of old gasket material.

The only times I use sealant is:

1. Where the Mfg. specifies that it is used I.E. metal to metal faces, rubber cam plugs.

2. In areas where there is a history of leakage due to poor design from the Mfg.

**tatcat** · #14 11-07-2009, 01:42 PM

recently replaced the pumps on my ford and my van. at the register in the advance auto store there was a little rack with packs of sealant. that's what i used. worked fine.

**mk e** · #15 11-07-2009, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Irishman

The instructions with the water pump recommend using a 'tacky sealant' on both sides of the gasket. Recommendation?

Permatex aviation sealant. It's a black paint on goo that works very well and never really hardens so little bits don't come off and plug stuff up like RTV will. They have been selling the stuff for years and year, it used to be sold as "form-a-gasket" if I recall. Just the gasket alone should seal.....but man I hate doing things twice and a little sealant pretty much ensures I won't have to, at least not becasue of a leak.

If no gasket will be used I like permetex 518 or similar. It only hardens on the clamping surface so again little bits can't come off.

**FasterIsBetter** · #16 11-07-2009, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2NA

Hylomar is a good choice here.

Ditto. Used it on water pump gaskets on many different cars and never a leak or failure.

**Irishman** · #17 11-08-2009, 07:35 AM

Follow on question is tips for removing the old gasket?

I sprayed it with Permatex gasket remover last night then put it away for the evening. I have a putty knife but I will have my work cut out for me getting that old gasket off.

beast · #18 11-08-2009, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Irishman

Follow on question is tips for removing the old gasket?

I sprayed it with Permatex gasket remover last night then put it away for the evening. I have a putty knife but I will have my work cut out for me getting that old gasket off.

I tend to use gasket remover let it sit 10-15 mins then scrape. you may have to do this a few times as the gasket remover will not soften up the entire thickness of the gasket.