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TECH FEATURES
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Before we start looking at the many different
types of gasket available we need to
understand what a gasket is and why it is
needed. In short a gasket simply creates a
seal between two mating surfaces. It does
this by taking up the space caused by the
imperfections of the two mating surfaces.
Therefore most gaskets are effectively
‘crushed’ to create the seal when the two
objects are bolted together. Because of this
most can only be used once, and need to be
replaced for new when removed.
In an engine gaskets are needed to create
seals for components dealing with oil, fuel,
water and sometimes air. Therefore different
gaskets need to be made from different
materials depending upon their use.
The most common types of gasket material
include:CORK
Cork gaskets (below) are commonly used to
create a seal between two steel surfaces
when oil is present, for example rockercover-to-head, and sump-to-block. Cork is
the best material to use for this as it is
absorbent, has excellent crush capabilities,
and is cheap and easy to produce.PAPER
Most commonly found in water pumps and
thermostats, thin water-resistant paper
gaskets (above) are ideal for sealing
between two machined surfaces when
water is present.FIBRE
Fibre gaskets and in particular washers are
often used to create seals in fuel systems.
They are impermeable to fuel, yet have
excellent crush capabilities, which makes
them ideal for use in conjunction with banjo
bolts for components such as fuel pumps,
fuel rails and so on.RUBBER SEALS
Rubber seals (below) are often used to
seal between a rotating assembly and a
fi xed object, such as crankshafts-in-block
and camshafts-in-head. The outer casing
of a rubber seal is usually rubber-coated
steel which presses into the fi xed
component to create a seal around the
outer edge. The inner part of the seal is
typically a rubber fl ange with a spring in
it, which holds the inner edge of the seal
onto the component running through it.
This allows the inner component such as
a crankshaft to rotate freely, while still
retaining an oil-tight seal.Types of gasket