Gasket Maker Products
How to choose the right gasket maker
Gasket maker, gasket sealer and gasket dressing are different products and should not be used interchangeably.
What is gasket maker?
A gasket maker product is used by carmakers in place of a traditional cut compression gasket.
What is a gasket sealer?
A gasket sealer is used when joining highly machined components. It should never be used to fill gaps larger than .015”
What is a gasket dressing?
A gasket dressing is used in conjunction with a cut compression style gasket to aid in holding the gasket in place during assembly and to aid in sealing.
Generally speaking, unless specifically called for the gasket instructions, a gasket sealer should never be used on most cut gaskets. In fact, using a gasket sealer when it’s not called for can result in leaks.
What are the 3 different types of Gasket maker products
1. Room Temperature Vulcanizing (RTV) gasket maker
RTV gasket maker is a thick silicone product that cures into a rubbery flexible gasket.
There are two basic chemistries for RTV products; Acetoxy and Oxime.
Acetoxy silicone
Acetoxy silicone cure in the presence of atmospheric moisture and release acetic acid in the process. Acetic acid has a strong vinegar-like smell. During the drying curing process they release a fine powdery substance that can coat the slots of an oxygen sensor and poison the sensor and catalytic converter. In addition, Acetoxy silicone products can corrode metals and copper wire.
Household silicone products are Acetoxy based and should never be used in automotive applications due to their propensity to poison oxygen sensors and catalytic converters and their corrosive properties.
Oxime silicone
Unlike Acetoxy silicone, Oxime silicone uses a neutral chemical , as opposed to acidic, to initiate the curing process. Like Acetoxy silicone, Oxime silicone cure in the presence of moisture. As they cure, they release methyl ethyl ketoxime does not damage oxygen sensors or catalytic converters.
Oxime silicone is non-corrosive when cured and has excellent oil and temperature resistant properties.
2. Solvent Based
Solvent based gasket maker is used in sealing applications where you have irregular or uneven surfaces and is especially good at resisting gasoline and other volatile fluids such as transmission fluid and synthetic oil.
3. Anerobic gasket maker
Anerobic gasket makers cure in the presence of metal and the absence of oxygen. Anerobic gasket makers are thinner than RTV silicone and can’t be used to seal gaps larger than .015″. Do not use anerobic gasket maker to fill large gaps. Use RTV in those applications. Use anerobic products to form a gasket between two closely fitted machined parts.
Anerobic gasket maker provides a solvent resistant seal.
Anerobic gasket products should NEVER be used as a gasket dressing on a conventional cut compression gasket.
Choosing the right gasket maker
Several companies manufacture gasket maker products. Permatex is the predominant supplier in the automotive market. Since it’s so readily available, I’ll cover their products. But feel free to buy any brand you like as long as you read the product application literature to confirm its the right product for your application.
Three gasket maker colors
Grey RTV gasket maker
Grey RTV is used for high torque and high vibration applications, especially in Asian applications where closed spaced bolt patterns are used.
Recommended applications for GREY RTV: Valve covers, water pump, intake manifold end seals, thermostat housings
Black RTV gasket maker
Black RTV provides high flexibility and is more oil resistant than Grey RTV.
Recommended applications for BLACK RTV: timing covers, transmission pans and oil pans.
Red RTV gasket maker
Red RTV works better in high temperature applications, generally up to 650°F. Red RTV is resistant to high thermal cycling.
Recommended applications for high-temperature Red RTV: exhaust manifold, header, turbochargers and slip-fit exhaust parts.
Permatex Grey RTV products
For use on: valve covers, water pump, intake manifold end seals and thermostat housings
Permatex Ultra Grey RTV Silicone Gasket Maker
• High torque and high vibration applications.
• Sensor-safe, low odor, non-corrosive.
• Use on valve covers, water pump, intake manifold end seals and thermostat housings
Permatex Optimum Grey RTV Silicone Gasket Maker
• Maximum rigidity, torque load and vibration resistance
• Premium option for coolants especially post DEX-COOL.
• Use on valve covers, water pump, intake manifold end seals and thermostat housings
Permatex The Right Stuff Grey 90 Minute Gasket Maker
• High torque and high vibration applications
• Sensor-safe, non-corrosive, RTV silicone
• Returns vehicle to service in just 90 minute
• Leak-proof and blowout resistant
• Use on valve covers, water pump, intake manifold end seals and thermostat housings
Permatex The Right Stuff Grey 1 Minute Gasket Maker
• High torque and high vibration applications
• Sensor-safe, non-corrosive, RTV silicone
• Returns vehicle to service in just 1 minute
• Leak-proof and blowout resistant
• Use on valve covers, water pump, intake manifold end seals and thermostat housings
Permatex Black RTV products
Use where for high flexibility and high oil resistant applications such as timing covers, transmission pans and oil pans.
Permatex Ultra Black RTV Silicone Gasket Maker
• High flexibility, vibration resistant and oil resistant to powertrain fluids
• Sensor safe, low odor, and non-corrosive
• Use on timing covers, transmission pans and oil pans.
Permatex Optimum Black RTV Silicone Gasket Maker
• Maximum flexibility especially when joining unlike materials with different rates of expansion and contraction: (plastic/steel, aluminum/steel, etc.)
• Maximum oil resistance
• Sensor safe, low odor, and non-corrosive
• 15% stronger and 60% more flexible than Ultra Black, Resistant to auto and shop fluids, and vibration
Permatex The Right Stuff 90 Minute Black Gasket Maker
• Maximum flexibility especially when joining unlike materials with different rates of expansion and contraction: (plastic/steel, aluminum/steel, etc.)
• Maximum oil resistance
• Sensor safe, low odor, and non-corrosive
• 15% stronger and 60% more flexible than Ultra Black, Resistant to auto and shop fluids, and vibration
• Resistant against weathering and thermal cycling without hardening, shrinking or cracking
• Returns vehicle to service in just 90 minutes ,
• Use for Oil pans, timing covers, transmission pans, differential covers
Permatex The Right Stuff 1 Minute Black Gasket Maker
• Maximum flexibility especially when joining unlike materials with different rates of expansion and contraction: (plastic/steel, aluminum/steel, etc.)
• Maximum oil resistance
• Sensor safe, low odor, and non-corrosive
• 15% stronger and 60% more flexible than Ultra Black, Resistant to auto and shop fluids, and vibration
• Resistant against weathering and thermal cycling without hardening, shrinking or cracking
• Returns vehicle to service in just 1 minute.
• Use for Oil pans, timing covers, transmission pans, differential covers
Permatex Red RTV products
Use red RTV for High-temperature applications such as the exhaust manifold, header, turbochargers and slip-fit exhaust parts.
Permatex Ultra Red RTV Silicone Gasket Maker
• High temperature resistant up to 650°F (343°C) intermittent
• Sensor-safe, non-corrosive, RTV silicone low-order formulation
• High-temperature applications such as the exhaust manifold, header, turbochargers and slip-fit exhaust parts.
Permatex Optimum Red RTV Silicone Gasket Maker
• High temperature resistant up to 750°F (399°C) intermittent
• Resistant to high thermal cycling
• Sensor-safe, non-corrosive, RTV silicone low-order formulation
• High-temperature applications such as the exhaust manifold, header, turbochargers and slip-fit exhaust parts.
Permatex The Right Stuff Red 90 Minute Gasket Maker
• High temperature resistant up to 650°F (343°C) intermittent
• Resistant to high thermal cycling
• Sensor-safe, non-corrosive, RTV silicone low-order formulation
• Leak-proof and seepage resistant, blowout resistant
• High-temperature applications such as the exhaust manifold, header, turbochargers and slip-fit exhaust parts.
• Returns vehicle to service in just 90 minutes.
Permatex The Right Stuff Red 1 Minute Gasket Maker
• High temperature resistant up to 650°F (343°C) intermittent
• Resistant to high thermal cycling
• Sensor-safe, non-corrosive, RTV silicone low-order formulation
• Leak-proof and seepage resistant, blowout resistant
• High-temperature applications such as the exhaust manifold, header, turbochargers and slip-fit exhaust parts.
• Returns vehicle to service in just 1 minute.
Permatex Anerobic Products
Anerobic gasket makers cure in the presence of metal and the absence of oxygen. Anerobic gasket makers are thinner than RTV silicones and can’t be used to seal gaps larger than .015″. Do not use anerobic gasket maker to fill large gaps. Use RTV in those applications. Use anerobic products to form a gasket between two closely fitted machined parts.
Anerobic gasket maker provides a solvent resistant seal.
Anerobic gasket products should NEVER be used as a gasket dressing on a conventional cut compression gasket.
©, 2022 Rick Muscoplat