Summary

I've seen on a few forums that people are coating head gaskets with copper spray, isn't this a bad practice? And Mitsu's also said particularly on metal head gaskets. OK i wouldn't say it's a bad practice. I have used copper spray on a MLS steel gasket and I've also done it without.

00:00 - Chris has asked, I've seen on a few forums that people are coating head gaskets with copper spray, isn't this a bad practice? And Mitsu's also said particularly on metal head gaskets.
00:09 OK i wouldn't say it's a bad practice.
00:12 I have used copper spray on a MLS steel gasket and I've also done it without.
00:19 So my preference is if we're dealing with a proper multi layer steel gasket, I'm going to assemble that gasket dry.
00:28 There is a viton coating, that's that black coating that you'll see on the MLS gasket and this is designed to help the gasket seal to both the head surface and the deck surface of the block.
00:39 So that copper spray is not essential, it's not necessary, and it's not going to actually help the gasket do its job any better.
00:46 Now while I don't necessarily recommend it, I know that a lot of engine builders reuse metal head gaskets and this is where that copper spray can come in.
00:55 When you reuse the metal head gasket, you're going to find that when you disassemble it, some of that viton coating will inevitably peel off.
01:02 It's gonna end up staying stuck to the cylinder head or the engine block.
01:06 And this makes it a little bit hard.
01:08 Because when you reuse that gasket, you're not gonna have the benefit of that viton coating.
01:12 So my preference there is I will actually clean down the surface, I'll remove any remaining viton coating from the gasket and then I will give it two light coats of a copper head gasket spray, head gasket sealant, and reuse it that way.
01:26 Of course the best solution there is simply to use a new gasket every time.
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