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Thread: Confusion

  1. #1
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    Default Confusion

    Backstory,

    12 months ago I had to replace the cylinder head on my courier ute, Repco salesman recommended and sold me some Permatex No1 for the gaskets/cover plates etc.

    I soon noticed that wherever it was in contact with oil or coolant it was breaking down into a mess of brown goo and fluids were weeping everywhere it was used, and the places it was subject to heat it turned brittle and fell apart.

    This weekend I had to pull the head because of a big coolant leak up under the intake manifold, it appeared to be pouring out of the head gasket and on inspection I found the head gasket was blown (as expected)

    The strange thing is, I found a mass of coolant soaked brown goo inside the bottom of cylinder 3 intake port, near the crack in the head gasket.

    I can't figure out how it got there and if the two are related, hope I'm not just treating the symptom instead of the real problem by putting a new head gasket on
    IMG_1741.jpgIMG_1742.jpgIMG_1748.jpg

  2. #2
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    Default

    I’m a big fan of the non-setting Permatex #3 for coolant related sealing, but no experience with the #1.
    It looks like #1 is a similar product - but sets hard.

    The #3 definitely isn’t affected by coolant. I normally use silicon for oil areas so can’t comment on that aspect.

    I’ve done a few heads and gaskets over the years but never seen a gasket in basically good condition with a clean crack like that.

    What was the reason for the head replacement previously? Any chance the block is cracked there?

    Steve

  3. #3
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    Quote Originally Posted by OxxAndBert View Post
    I’m a big fan of the non-setting Permatex #3 for coolant related sealing, but no experience with the #1.
    It looks like #1 is a similar product - but sets hard.

    The #3 definitely isn’t affected by coolant. I normally use silicon for oil areas so can’t comment on that aspect.

    I’ve done a few heads and gaskets over the years but never seen a gasket in basically good condition with a clean crack like that.

    What was the reason for the head replacement previously? Any chance the block is cracked there?

    Steve
    Hi Steve, It's possible that the damage occurred when I lifted the head off but I was pretty careful and don't think I caused that damage.

    The original head was diagnosed by my local mechanic to have a cooked valve, so I took it home and put a new head on it.

    I'm starting to think maybe the new head has cracked, I drove the car without knowing it had lost a good amount of coolant, or maybe the block! I'll clean it up and see if I notice anything. the metallurgists at work do crack testing so maybe they have stuff I can take home and test for cracks.

    I'm just stumped what the buildup is and why it's there, maybe it's worse than I first thought...

  4. #4
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    Default Confusion

    FWIW - Apparently mixing different types of coolants can produce a jelly/snot substance.

    If you can get hold of a dye penetrant crack test kit would be useful.
    They are about $90 to buy, but hopefully you can sweet talk the blokes at work

    Steve

  5. #5
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by OxxAndBert View Post
    FWIW - Apparently mixing different types of coolants can produce a jelly/snot substance.

    If you can get hold of a dye penetrant crack test kit would be useful.
    They are about $90 to buy, but hopefully you can sweet talk the blokes at work

    Steve
    Absolutely agree on the dye check system, If you can't borrow a set, but can buy the individual cans, just get the dye penetrant. You can clean with any suitable solvent, Prepsol, turps, brakeClean etc and for the developer, sprinkle chalk dust, as in engineering chalk dust, whiting etc. You could borrow the kitchen flour sifter, or if the war Dept. has other ideas a salt shaker from a charity shop would do, or even just jar with a tin lid with a couple of small holes punched in.
    I have used and found very satisfactory Permatex number 2, I have no experience of the other varieties.

  6. #6
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    Default info

    The data sheet says not to use it in contact with any additives: maybe your coolant additive messed up the #1 stuff

    https://www.permatex.com/wp-content/.../tds/80008.pdf

    The #3 non-hardening stuff is excellent , I have used in on old Land Rover engines that normally leak like a sieve

  7. #7
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    Default

    So rather than taking a chance and having to do the job all over again down the road I took the head and old gasket to a local engine reconditioning business.

    I told him I blew the gasket and I was worried I might have damaged the head, he looked it over and said it all looks good with no signs of the head having overheated, he then looked at the head gasket and said it was absolute $h!t quality and no surprise it failed (shows what I know, I thought it looks decent when I put it on)

    he ordered me a new graphite gasket and is cleaning the head before I put it back on.

    I got lucky this time.

    cheers

  8. #8
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    I only use REPCO as a LAST resort, when no one else has or can get the part, we have 4 suppliers here.
    In case you didn't know, REPCO stands for Rip Every Poor Customer Off, or similar.
    Kryn
    To grow old is mandatory, growing up is optional.

  9. #9
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by morrisman View Post
    The data sheet says not to use it in contact with any additives: maybe your coolant additive messed up the #1 stuff
    The warning regarding additives only applies to aromatic solvents or additives, the MSDS confirms that Permatex No.1 is fine with ethylene glycol etc.
    Haven't used the No.1 as much, but I do love No.3 and use it in preference to just about everything else.

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