Gasket 'Goo'

[noelex 77]

I want to replace my water pump">raw water pump. I would prefer to do the job myself. I have not yet removed the pump, but there is red gasket goo around the existing pump where it bolts on to the engine.

Can anyone recommend a suitable gasket product.
A few alternatives would be great because I will be buying it in Greece or Australia and products that are common in other countries can be difficult to find or go by another name.

[neptunesjester]

In the States we have a product matching your description called High-Temp RTV Silicone Gasket Maker made by Permatex. I'm sure a local mechanic can point you to a similar product. Worst case, just use normal silicone caulk, hand tightened the bolts on the pump to lightly seat it, let it sit overnight to cure, then finish tightening in the morning. I use the same procedure for the RTV product and haven't had a seal made with it fail yet.

I just used the RTV product on my own water pump, but I've also used regular silicone in a pinch for these jobs and the seal outlasted the part. I keep a couple tubes of RTV handy.

Regards,
NJ

[GordMay]

Loctite Gasket Cement #4
Permatex #2 gasket sealer
RTV Silicone (Blue)
VHT Copper Gasket Cement

[Wotname]

Originally Posted by noelex 77

..........
A few alternatives would be great because I will be buying it in Greece or Australia and products that are common in other countries can be difficult to find or go by another name.

Originally Posted by GordMay

Loctite Gasket Cement #4
Permatex #2 gasket sealer
RTV Silicone (Blue)
VHT Copper Gasket Cement

Not sure about the last product but the first three are commonly available in Oz.

[Artif]

Hylomar, my preferred choice.
Red Hermetite (probably what you have).

Whatever you get, use it sparingly.

[sigmasailor]

Make your own paper gasket from an old sea chart.

[noelex 77]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I have been meaning to get something suitable for a while, but the packet direction are rarely in English which makes finding something appropropriate hard. Now i know what I need.

[PamlicoTraveler]

Originally Posted by sigmasailor

Make your own paper gasket from an old sea chart.

I am curious what this means.

I am wanting to make a rubbery gasket for my air cooler assembly cap, but don't know what material to use. What is "an old sea chart"?

[sigmasailor]

Exactly what it says. A piece of thick paper. Back in my merchant navy days we used old charts routinely to make new packings. If the sealing surfaces are smooth this really works good.
We used them on brass circulating pumps and you name it.
Just grease one mating surface and stamp the outline on the chart; than cut out.

[jcapo]

Manila folders work well for gasket material if you need something thicker than a chart.

[Wotname]

Originally Posted by sigmasailor

Make your own paper gasket from an old sea chart.

I tried my old c-map but it didn't work out so well - I think there must have been a charting error on it!

Next time I will just print off a hard copy and try that.

[Marqus]

A product actually called "Gasket Goo" is fairly commonly available in boat and car shops in Australia (see image below). Sets firm, but joints can be taken apart.

I bought some but haven't had a chance to use it yet. On the package, it is claimed to withstand oil, petrol, anti-freeze, transmission fluid, steam, most chemicals and temperatures up to 230C / 450F. Quite impressive.

Also, it claims to be suitable for "leak proofing hose connections". That would be very handy if it worked, especially the "taking apart" bit.

Now, if someone has experience of actually using it, good or bad, any feedback would be welcome.

[Geoduck]

If you are using a paper gasket, you can use plain old contact cement to glue the gasket inplace on one surface. You dont need any gasket goo or glue of anykind if you are using a paper gasket. Both surfaces need to be scraped clean - the paper gasket will do the rest.
If you use silicone, do not use any gasket. The silicone becomes the gasket once it sets up. Use silicone sparingly - you only need a thin bead applied to one surface which must be clean, free of oil, etc.
The correct way to use silicone as a gasket is to apply the silicone to one surface, wait about 5 minutes before you assemble parts, assemble parts with only enough pressure to spead the silcone out evenly, wait at least 15 minutes then tighten the bolts. Tighten bolts to low end of torque specs - dont over tighten.
This is how it's done by a factory trained Cat diesel mechanic.

[Saltyhog]

This brings up a related question: The replacement raw water impellers for my Westerbeke W46 always include a thin gasket. Not sure what it is, but it does not look like paper. Should I use a gasket cement / sealer on the gasket? Or are the "gasket goo" materials only for when there is no separate gasket?

[Geoduck]

when you have a gasket of anykind you dont need cement, goo or glue of anykind. The gasket is what does the sealing. The only reason to use gasket cement is to help hold the gasket in place during assembly. Just make sure the surfaces are clean and free of oil. Use acetone to clean the surface after it is scraped.
The use of silicone, goo, etc is when you dont have a gasket.