Frank, you have made a good point.  Some years ago, I was one of the R&D managers for one of the leading adhesives and sealants companies.  Some industrial applications appear to have much more demanding applications in terms of temperature and chemical aggressiveness of the liquid phase than exist in our engines.  Also, why do the instructions call for putting sealant on only one side of the gasket?  If we are trying to keep the coolant in as well as allow for mechanical expansion of the metal surfaces in contact with the gaskets, reason would dictate use of sealant on both gasket surfaces.

John Lauterbach
Macon, GA
'84 DL
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Frank Condelli 
  To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM 
  Sent: Monday, March 05, 2001 5:32 AM
  Subject: Head gasket sealant

       Karl, and all the rest of you who are looking into this.  My 
  experience has shown that the stuff in the head gasket kits is K-R-A-P !  Use 
  Permatex or GE copper for head gasket applications.  I have been using the 
  Permatex and never had a gasket leak afterwards.  Do it once, do it right, 
  stop these head gasket leaks ! 

  Cheers  

  Frank Condelli 
  Almonte, Ontario, Canada 
  BusFusion a VW Camper event in Almonte, June 7-10 
  '87 Westy & Lionel Trains 
  Member: Vanagon List, LiMBO, IWCCC & Capital City VW Club 
  Vanagon/Vanagon Westfalia Service in the Ottawa Valley 
  STEBRO/Vanagon Stainless Steel Mufflers   
  Frank Condelli & Associates or http://frankcondelli.com 

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