[200q20v] Reusing gaskets

[Bernie Benz]

Hi Derek, 

At the risk of starting another big brou-ha-ha on this list, I'll share my
unconventional gasketing philosophy.  With few exceptions, head gaskets for
one, I do not believe in solid gaskets, nor will I use them.  I much prefer
the fluid gasketing materials, RTV being my usual preference.  I have used
it on intake and exhaust manifolds, oil pans, valve covers, and all the
other usual gasketed joints.

IM further O, torque wrenches should only be used on head bolts.  The seat
of the pants feel is a far better torque limiter for most all other
fastners.

Bernie 

> From: "Derek Pulvino" <dpulvino at agraus.com>
> Date: Mon, 19 Feb 2001 09:42:02 -0800
> To: <200q20v at audifans.com>
> Subject: [200q20v] Reusing gaskets
> 
> What's other peoples opinion on reusing gaskets, specifically the intake
> manifold gasket.  Kind of convoluted but...just replaced the valve cover
> gasket and noticed that I have a slight leak from the half moon portion of the
> gasket on the front side of the head, adjacent to the intake cam.  My guess is
> the gasket didn't engage in the grove in the head correctly.  In order to get
> this seated right again I need to remove the valve cover (or at least get it
> loose enough to allow some manipulation), and in order to do that, I need to
> remove the intake manifold (brilliant engineering audi).  I've just recently
> went through this whole process to replace the dist. and other mentioned
> gaskets, so the intake manifold gasket was replaced about 3-4 weeks ago.  What
> do other people think about reusing the intake gasket?  Oh ya, and just
> remembered that I have to remove all of the said pieces seeing as one of the
> bolts broke within the valve cover upon trying to loosen it.
> 
> Also, anybody else ever mess with the head gasket, or for that matter the pan
> gasket?  If you have, did you also have problems with the fasteners breaking
> at around the speced 7ft-lbs?  So far I've broken three bolts at speced
> torque, 2 on install, and one on removal, and actualy, it's not frustrating at
> all.
> 
> Derek "bolt breaker" Pulvino
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