Best sealant for oil plugs and gaskets?

[ogasman]

Its been about a decade since my last build.  Last time I used teflon paste on the oil gallery plugs, and motorcraft t31 on the gasket water passages and at the pan corners, etc.  Any thing better to use now?  Not an FE this time, but close.  Building a 292 Y-Block.

Thanks
Paul

[blykins]

I use thread sealant on external gallery plugs.  I also use Dow Corning 732 silicone for around water ports, gasket sealing, china walls, etc.

[GerryP]

A lot of products work.  Yours, mine, Brent's.  All good.  What you've used in the past is still good.  Everyone has a personal choice.  Not that it's better, but it's what they're comfortable with.  I use Permatex #1 on oil gallery plugs and core plugs.  The #1 is a hardening sealer and is older than most folks building engines these days.  It's what was the standard back in the day.  Indian Heat is a lacquer-based sealer adhesive.  Again, older than most folks building these engines.  It too works great in gallery and core plugs and as a gasket sealer and adhesive.  Silicone is the only thing I know of that is clearly superior in pan gasket transitions.

[Falcon67]

I typically use plumbing - PTFE thread sealant.  (Rectorseal, etc) .  I've used all the old stuff like Indian Head, shellac and such.  Dropped all that years ago as modern stuff works way, way better.  Most water stuff and china walls I use high temp black RTV.  The Dow stuff also works great.  RTV works, but i should be used sparingly.  On pan gaskets and such, I prefer using pan studs, put a very, very thin swipe of RTV on the pan side, then install - block side dry.  That's mostly to help the gasket stay with the removed part because my engines get the inside looked at periodically.  Also use more advanced gaskets and not old cork and such. 

[CV355]

I use:
-Blue PTFE thread sealant for plugs and any fittings that seal on threads. 
-On AN and similar 37-degree face-seal fittings, I keep the seal faces clean and dry, but I do put a tiny drop of oil on the threads to lubricate them for assembly.  This helps a lot with hose ends.
-Loctite SI5900 when I have to run a bead. 
-Permatex 80062 as a general gasket sealant.

[fryedaddy]

dont forget to warn about the RIGHT STUFF.it might work but getting a intake or valve covers off later may be a problem.it must have super glue or something in it.

[CV355]

dont forget to warn about the RIGHT STUFF.it might work but getting a intake or valve covers off later may be a problem.it must have super glue or something in it.

I had a can of that explode near me one time (I wasn't the one using it).  You know how hard it is to get that crap off your skin?  Good thing I wear safety glasses almost all of the time even for tasks that wouldn't normally require it. 

[BigBlueIron]

I typically use plumbing - PTFE thread sealant.  (Rectorseal, etc) . 

No.5, All I use for threaded connections. Put it on assemble and put into immediate service. Even in very high pressure applications. Always works and never a leak.  Never used it on cores plugs, might have to give that a try.

[GerryP]

I typically use plumbing - PTFE thread sealant.  (Rectorseal, etc) . 

No.5, All I use for threaded connections. Put it on assemble and put into immediate service. Even in very high pressure applications. Always works and never a leak.  Never used it on cores plugs, might have to give that a try.

You mean on cup plugs?  No.  That would not be a good use for it since PTFE is actually a thread lubricant.  I would think that it would make the plug a little less secure.  That's why Permatex #1 is good for cup plugs as it is a hardening sealer.  Again, not in any way, shape or form saying nothing but that works.  But you don't want a non-hardening sealer on cup plugs.  If you're writing about threaded plugs, then the "seal" occurs on the threads.  The PTFE lubricates the threads to effect the seal.  Sure, you get some seal from the PTFE.  Again, nearly everyone's favorite works. 

[6667fan]

Ford Diesel engine sealant TA-31 anywhere you would normally use silicone type sealants. Plumbers Blue Block on external oil passage plugs.

[cammerfe]

Last I knew, Roush's Prototype Shop used two part epoxy on water jacket plugs.

KS