Barrels to engine case - sealant or gasket?

I am all for the sealants.

Leaving out the paper may increase compression (slightly). If that's a concern, use the paper but smear both sides with the sealant. Belt and braces...

Speedy Jim

The paper and glue both add thickness to the sealing area, changing the deck height. Which in turn changes the compression ratio a little. That said, they all need to be EVEN.

I don't like using the paper gaskets, because I would use them WITH sealant. The sealant makes them slippery, and when torquing the heads down, they can slip out of place and cause a leak.

Blue hylomar is ok to use here, I would use just that, and follow the instructions. I used iut myself in my early days, until I found something better. (Mahle cylinder sealant).

Do not use Hylomar in the head side of the cylinder. You shouldn't need anything there, if the surfaces are true and smooth. Just metal against metal. I sometimes use that Mahle sealant there too however, a very faint little coat.

Jan

Ever spin the cylinders in the head with valve grinding compound?

better seal? check the seal?

Mostly takes very little then ever'once in a while, "whoa, this head's a mess". Save the crappy heads for the dune buggies. ;)

Alvin in AZ

Thanks for the replies! Sealant and no gasket it is then.

I also noticed that there are some metal rings in the cylinder heads where the barrels join. Are these standard? I can't find any reference to them in the manual.

Yep, done that on occasion. Mostly just use high heat, thin sealant, as little as I can.

Jan

I have used the valve grinding compound too which works well if needed. Then before the tin goes back on I leakdown test each cylinder to check for leakage at the cylinder-head seal. I have caught a few leakers that way and use the compound to cure it! ;-)

What engine do you have? Type 4's have head gaskets, but VW said to discard them and add shims to the bottom.

them and add shims to

There were aftermarket head rings which were used to lower compression on Type 1 engines.

Jim

I thought some of the early 6 volt Type 1 engines had these cylinder to head gaskets too? I forget though. ;-)

I remember see>

Since I'm using the same heads, I've reused the metal rings. Hope that's okay...