Things You'll Need:
- Composite gasket or silicone gasket material
- Chemical gasket remover
- Putty knife
- Brake cleaner spray
- Straight edge
- Torque wrench
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Step 1
Wait for the engine to cool completely. Open the hood on the vehicle and remove whichever part uses the gasket that needs replacing, making sure you disconnect all lines, hoses and bolts connected to it. The exact removal process will vary depending on the part.
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Step 2
Take off the gasket from the engine.
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Step 3
Clean all surfaces on the engine that connect to the new gasket using a chemical gasket remover. Use a putty knife and brake cleaner on oily residues and for any rough buildup (don't damage any light alloy surfaces on the engine).
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Step 4
Connect the new gasket in place on the engine, applying sealant to the underside of the gasket before placing it. If you are creating a gasket with silicone material, take about an 1/8-inch size bead of the material and apply it to the engine part, making sure you encircle all of its bolt holes.
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Step 5
Place the engine part back in position. Do this immediately if you are using silicone gasket material. If you are using a composite gasket, apply another layer of sealant to the top side of the gasket before connecting the engine part.
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Step 6
Replace and torque the mounting bolts for the part, applying them in an "X" pattern to make sure the seal is even. If you used a composite gasket, apply a medium-strength thread-locker to the bolts, and tighten them to the torque specified for that model and part.
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Step 7
Let the silicone material vulcanize (if that is what you are using), which will take at least an hour, then re-tighten the bolts to their specified torque. You don't need to re-torque the bolts if you used material that vulcanizes at room temperature.
