I am doing a head gasket job on my 02 Dakota. I was wondering about the head gaskets. I am going to be using the FEL-PRO HS26157PT kit. I was reading that some people recommend using an adhesive when installing the head gaskets. Something like 3M spray adhesive 90 or copper coat. Is this the best way to make sure I will never have to do this job again?

 

you'll probably have to do it again, even if you black RTV'd the damn heads down.

We use coppercoat on the race engine. Hang the gaskets from a wire, spray both sides with coppercoat, let sit 10 minutes, apply very thin layer of black RTV around the water passages on the block and head, then stab the gasket on followed by the head.

 

I have a can of Permatex high tack gasket sealant on hand. Will that be the same?

 

I'd only use it if it says it's hi temp. This is the stuff I would use... https://www.summitracing.com/parts/p...FdgXgQod_8EJQQ

How did your gasket blow, overheat? I had a small leak but I fixed it without having to pull the head.

 

Yes it overheated and now it has steam coming out of the exhaust. The oil filler tube is yellow milky.

Permatex high tack gasket sealant: Fast-drying all-purpose sealant dries to a highly tacky, non-brittle film. A reliable general adhesive remains tacky indefinitely – can be applied in advance for convenience in assembly. Remains effective at temperatures of -65°F to 500°F (-54°C to 260°C). Sensor-safe. Resists gasoline, oil, antifreeze, axle lube, kerosene, propane and butane.

 

what dodgevity linked to is the exact can we use. Then the hi-temp permatex around the water ports on the metal surfaces (not the gasket-let it be tacky on it's own).

Idea of letting the gasket dry for 10 mins is that the copper gets tacky, isn't totally wet nor dry. The thin layer of permatex around the water ports is just cheap insurance. When you stab the head on and torque it, the sticky copper acts like a glue and fills in any imperfections in the surface of both metals.