Ultra Copper is O2 sensor safe and works if you have really fouled mating
surfaces between your pipes.

-Craig

On Thu, Oct 22, 2009 at 6:02 PM, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>wrote:

> Silicone anything on exhaust gaskets does not add any sealing value except
> maybe to foul the O2 sensor and catalyst.
>
> Dennis
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
> craig cowan
> Sent: Thursday, October 22, 2009 4:12 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: 1.9 Head replacement (was lifter collapse / smog issue)
>
> Any exhaust gasket that comes off needs to be replaced. You're unlikely to
> get a good seal putting a used gasket back on, as they compress to fit. I
> also tend to replace every coolant or otherwise gasket that I take off, as
> I
> tend to feel that most are a "one time" use type of thing (as they compress
> to fit).
> If you've never taken a head off before, come ready with a pry bar and
> rubber mallet. They don't always put up a fight, but when they do, you want
> to be armed. Benny-Boy has a great video on how to remove a head
> (properly),
> you might want to check out his site.
> Keep everything clean, the cleaner the better. It's always good to have
> clear access to what your doing, and clean it up BEFORE you remove the
> head,
> otherwise stuff will just fall in as you take the head off.
> Junk in an engine= bad.
>
> There's some people that believe you cannot remove the head even once
> without having to replace the studs, which are of the stretch variety. It's
> a reasonable claim, I've just never felt the need to replace them (if
> they're in good shape).
>
> When you get the heads off and you want to clean up the insides of the
> combustion chamber (on the head) or the valves themselves, Regular H20
> (Water, Hydrogen Hydroxide, Etc) will make carbon dissolve if you just let
> it soak for a bit. I learned that if you soak a valve covered in carbon in
> a
> glass of water, you'll be left with a clean valve.
>
> Upon reassembly remember to wet your gaskets. Coolant gaskets get wet down
> with some coolant, Oil gaskets with some oil, and Exhaust gaskets can go on
> dry (though I like using Permetex Ultra Copper on both sides).
>
> Good luck, have fun.
>
> -Craig
> '85GL turned WESTY
> BOSTIG in the back
>
>
>
> On Thu, Oct 22, 2009 at 3:51 PM, Leonard Anthony
> <whitewatering@gmail.com>wrote:
>
> > The lifter was fine. The valve adjuster tip (intake, cyl 1) sheared off
> so
> > I
> > replaced it and adjusted the valves.
> > The exhaust valves on 3 & 4 failed the leak down test. This engine is a
> > Canadian VW Reman with ~ 15,000 mi.
> > Cyl 1&2 tested OK, German head. Cyl 3&4, bad valves, on AMC head. So this
> > is
> > probably a quality issue with the valves on the AMC heads, as I've read
> all
> > about it. Even though the engine has very low miles it had been replaced
> in
> > '02, seemingly a very bad year for AMC heads, from what I have read from
> > the
> > archives & elsewhere.
> >
> > Before I pull the head off, I thought I would ask (those on the list who
> > have replaced heads before) if there are any shortcuts, hints or do's &
> > don'ts not covered in the Bentley on head replacement. I don't want to
> > touch
> > the good side. Will 1 head gasket set be enough or will I also need
> exhaust
> > / coolant etc. gaskets for the good side? The engine does not currently
> > leak
> > anything, the water jacket is fine.
> >
> > Also, I'm wondering how to tell if the heads are 1.9 or 2.1, as it sounds
> > like they should not be co-mingled on an engine. What about co-mingling
> > German & Spanish heads, as was done on my VW rebuild? I do have an extra
> > German 1.9 head but until I pull them off the engine(s) I won't know
> which
> > one will be better to use.
> >
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Leonard
> >
>
>