Reply To: Awkward Sump Gasket

[BernieParticipant]

Richard,

First of all, not everybody is fortunate enough to have the facility to remove an engine easily but, as I said in my earlier post, in my experience this is not an easy job with the engine in situ –  so well done for having succeeded.

And, just to explain why I do not recomend “lubricating” a gasket when fitting … I spent the greater part of my working life in the gasket industry and experience there showed that a lubricated gasket was more prone to slide over the component face(s) leading to possible extrusion and hence reduced clamping load.  This is less of a problem with a rigid material such as a metal/soft mat’l sandwich but pure cork is one of the most susceptible to it.  Cork/rubber mixtures are a bit more resistant but not immune to being compromised in this way.  Therfore, if a cork joint does have grease added to the surface it should literally be no more than a smear for that reason.

Sorry if this sounds pedantic  …. but that is because I am a pedant!

B………….