Fel-Pro head gasket - Sealant or not?

Fel-Pro 8723 PT-1 head gaskets for the 225. The instructions say that fiber faced gaskets are to be installed dry and thats it, no mention of the head gasket in question.

I assume that this is a MLS style gasket, meaning no sealant?

 

From I have read putting F heads together over the years, fiber gaskets go on dry and steel gaskets need a sealant.

 

I've never used sealant on a head gasket. Never even heard of using sealant on a head gasket. I've also been wrong a lot.

 

Some head gaskets require that copper sealant stuff. Fel-pro does not.

 

I haven't done very many myself, but dear ol' dad (the 30-year Corvette restoration guy) always uses Copper Coat and the few I've done that way haven't had any problems.

 

All I've sold and used are the FelPro blue gaskets, which have a teflon coating. They do not need any kind of sealant.

To me, those gaskets are fiber faced. I expect that a spritz of spray Copper-Coat would not hurt, but is not required. There are thin head gaskets made of just a stamped steel or copper sheet - I expect that is what Fel-Pro is referring to as needing sealant.

Call or send an email to Federal Mogul, if you are worried. http://www.federalmogul.com/en/ContactUs/

 

The installation tip sheet that Jason posted is different than the sheet that came with my gaskets. These are not fiber gaskets. The black is somewhat sticky, almost like a thin coating of RTV. The red lines are Printoseal.

After snooping around some more, I found that these are Fel-Pro PermaTorque gaskets according to NAPA's website. I have an email into Federal Mogul, just waiting to hear back.

 

All the printoseal gaskets I've used said specifically to NOT use sealer in the instructions. I would follow their recommendations if for no other reason than warranty.
The exception to this are intake gaskets where I always put a dab of sealer where the cylinder head, intake manifold, and block meet. There is usually a bit of a gap there that needs filled to prevent oil leaks. Ymmv.


Sent from my iPhone

 

Here is the response from Federal Mogul

Kind of vague, but I don't see any parting lines on the gasket so no sealant is the way to go.

 

I think they mean a parting line on the parts the gasket goes on - like when an oil pan gasket crosses over from the block to the timing cover.

 

Yeah, that makes more sense I suppose. Either way, no sealant is needed with this head gasket.

 

Glad ya figured it out....

 

Ah, of course. Good thinking! :tea:

 

After my head bolt fiasco, I became paranoid and didn't want to re-use the head gasket that was almost torqued down. I ordered a single gasket from NAPA and this is how it came packaged. The other head gaskets (Same gaskets, but part of a master gasket kit) did not come labeled as such, just loose with the rest of the set. This answers my question: