www.iFourWinns.com

Ok, I have received conflicting stories so I am seeking your feedback and thoughts.

Putting on new risers, manifolds and swapping out my old thermostat. My quandary is, my VP service guys said "no" to using gasket sealer and a friend of mine (who is a marine mechanic) said he uses Locktite on all gaskets and bolts.

Now I have my old manifolds, risers and the thermostat housing off and I'm ready to flip a coin. Thoughts and opinions welcome. P.S. weather is nice (and early) so I'm getting a jump start on stuff.....

Thanks all...

_________________
-Tony
2016 Robalo R200 w/Yahama 200!

Previous boats:
2003 Four Winns 248 Vista - sold
1994 Sunbird Corsair 200 - sold
1980 Checkmate Predictor - sold

I'm a big fan of loctite blue on stuff you don't want falling out and never seize on spark plugs. I don't use gasket compounds on gaskets though. Just make sure the surfaces are clean for the gaskets to seal onto. I just replaced my thermostat with the factory volvo gasket. No add on sealers, no leaks.

_________________
1981 Columbia 8.7
2015 Yamaha FZR - 87mph - sold
2006 Yamaha GP1300R - sold
2003 Chaparral 215 SSI - sold
2009 Stingray 195CS - sold
2000 Four Winns H180 - sold
1976 O'day Daysailer II - sold
Rick's Four Winns H180 Mods/Upgrade Thread

I have worked on my riser a few time, no sealer & no leaks. But thats me. Should I be using it, not sure...

Some of the riser gaskets are supposed to not have sealer on them. But the thermostat gaskets and bolts at least on OMCs (and many Volvos used the same thermo housing) are supposed to get OMC gasket sealer (OMC gasket sealer is supposedly the same as Permatex Aviation Sealer). I have used this stuff every time I have changed a thermostat (and that's about once every 2 seasons because they get sticky in salt water) and they never leak and the bolts always come out. The sealer keeps moisture out of the threads and prevents corrosion. Works well on any bolts on the outdrive that are in salt water the whole season.

If the manufacturer says not to use on riser gaskets, I would probably not, but I might still put it on the threads of the bolts, because I have had great luck doing this on all my fasteners on the drive, water pump, etc.

_________________
88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II

VP changed their minds about using gasket sealer between risers and manifolds. Once it was a strict "NO- NO". In April 2010 they issued a service bulletin (25-1 16 01) indicating the use of a copper based heat resistant gasket compound on the joint mating surfaces; examples "Permatex Copper spray-a-gasket 80697" or "K&W Copper Coat 401612" (neither of which I can find here in the UK !). This is not applicable to engines with catalytic converters or pre joint venture engines.

Graham