What sealing compound for Liners

[LakeLox]

Hi all, new Fordsons, have been playing with Fergusons for years, been searching for a few hrs now but haven't found anything definitive. I noticed in the manual I have, the single O-ring Liner mentions a sealing compound for the top of the liner. I see most just use the head gasket, some use silicone etc. What is the general concensus, to seal or not to seal??. I am a big fan of Loctite No3. an aviation gasket maker I have had great success with this on metal to contacts like crankcase halves and other mated surfaces. What should I do or shouldn't do?

[Emiel]

Hi,

I used loctite 510 with succes the last time. Make you use a very tiny amount. You don’t want your liners to be to high or not seating properly.

[John b]

What i was always taught was that the head gasket seals the top of the liner and the sealer around the flange is to stop corrosion in the flange counterbore by preventing any coolant/water from getting in. We always used wellseal around them, but as Emiel says use only a very small amount of whatever you decide to use. I would imagine it's not as critical with the anti corrosion properties of modern antifreezes to have liner flanges sealed, many of the old lorry engines never had sealer around the liner tops but the counterbores were re-cut and new liners shimmed to height. I assume (but may be wrong) this was the reason a top liner seal was added to the Super Major engine
John

[LakeLox]

From what I see, most are cleaning carbon deposits from this area. As was the case with my old liners and block. Indicting to my peanut brain this must be from combustion gasses creating deposits?? Am I right?? That would lead me to believe the head gasket must be letting something through?? Does that then mean, until these carbon deposits build up and create a “seal” the combustion gasses and deposits are getting past the head gasket and into the cooling system?? Unless you seal it somehow??. I’m probably overthinking it a lot thats what time on your hands can do!!, until the little voices start to argue

[Billy26F5]

I agree with John. Do ensure the protrusion is correct (0.002"). I think the carbon is from a leak in the gasket, probably due to fatigue; I think a new gasket will seal fine.
Sandy