When using copper spray are you supposed to wait for the spray to be tacky or dry before installing them?

 

My can says tacky. What does your can say?

 

It says spray another coat when tacky. It doesn't specify if the gasket needs to be installed and torqued tacky or dry.

I installed them before when the gaskets were still tacky. Upon engine teardown it almost appeared as if there was some leakage. Not sure on that though. This is why i'm questioning the proper procedure/tackiness for headgasket installation.

 

are you using shim gaskets or what? i am not a fan of the copper spray... seems like it would act more as a lubricant than a sealer

 

Yes. Shim gaskets. Embossed steel.
It doesn't appear as if the gasket spray really dries. It stays somewhat tacky. So I installed them as such.
I checked out the permatex website and looked at the TDS for the spray. All it even says is to wait for the solvent to dry.

 

just a heads up... i have had the copper spray cause leaks on 3 different engines using embossed steel gaskets... however they were my first engines how much that had to do with it i will never know as i pulled those gaskets out replaced them with the another set of 1094s bottoned them back up 3 2 years later no complaints

 

"Solvent dry" = tacky.

I've never had a head gasket leak using copper spray. You don't need to "paint" the gasket, just coat it.

 

Makes sense.
Thanks