In a message dated 02/01/2005 8:44:30 PM Eastern Standard Time,
LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM writes:

i take  it that you enjoy cleaning unnecessary glue from engine when
repairing  them? German gaskets and proper torque is all thats needed. Glue
just makes  the gasket slide and possibly not seal. Not to mention the fact
that it  really sucks to remove later.

AND, those gaskets that are installed dry and  become baked to the aluminium
surface and have to be removed with a gasket  scraper or razor blade insuring
damage of the aluminium surface is better  ?  Silicon sealant is not glue it
will not be difficult to remove, in fact  most times it will come away with the
gasket or O-ring and what ever is left  will peel off easily with a light
rubbing with your finger.  Sealant oozing  out of mating surfaces is just a show
of the installers paranoia by using way  too much of the sealant.  A very
light tack coat is all that's  needed.  Another old time trick is to coat the
gasket with engine oil  before installing.  This will soften the gasket somewhat,
insure a tight  seal and make it easy to remove when the time comes.  I've
done both and  now favour the silicon method as the grey one for aluminium
surfaces  insures that no corrosion will take place there.  If you need to
disassemble for any reason it's very easy and leaves a good clean surface to put
things back together.

Cheers,

Frank  Condelli
Almonte, Ontario, Canada
_BusFusion_ (http://members.aol.com/BusFusion/bfhome.htm)  a VW Camper
camping event, Almonte, ON, June 09 ~ 12, 2005
'87 Westy, '90 Carat &  Lionel Trains
Member: _Vanagon List_ (http://www.vanagon.com/) , _LiMBO_
(http://www.bcn.net/~limbo/) , _IWCCC_ (http://www.westfalia.qc.ca/)  & _CCVWC_
(http://www.ccvwc.ca/)
Vanagon/Vanagon Westfalia Service in  the Ottawa Valley
_STEBRO/Vanagon Stainless Steel  Mufflers_
(http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/stebro.htm)
_Frank Condelli &  Associates_ (http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/busindex.html)
or  http://frankcondelli.com