Gaskets

Introduction:

The gasket is a piece of soft sheet or spongy sheet having similar holes and cuts as in the cylinder head and cylinder block so that the packing placed between the cylinder block and cylinder head does not interfere with the flow of gases or water or bolts passed.

Types of Gaskets:

Fig: Gasket

 

Types of gaskets which are frequently used in automobile engines:

• Copper-asbestos Gasket: In the copper-asbestos gasket, asbestos sheet is covered by thin copper plates on both sides so that the asbestos remains in combined form.

 

• Steel asbestos Gasket: It has thin steel sheets on both sides covering the asbestos sheet.

 

• Single Sheet Rigid or Corrugated Gasket: Only a single sheet or corrugated sheet of soft metal like copper or lead, etc. is used in the single sheet rigid or corrugated gasket.

 

• Stainless steel Gasket: In this a thin sheet of stainless steel is used. These gaskets are used as cylinder head gaskets between the cylinder head and cylinder block. Usually these gaskets are coated with a special varnish, which melts and seals the leakages when the cylinder head is hot.

 

 

• Cork Gasket: It is used for the oil pan in the crankcase and rocker cover where high pressure on the gasket is not needed.

 

• Rubber Gasket: The rubber gasket is also used in place of the cork gasket in the crankcase holes.

 

• The gasket prevents leakages and ensures tight fit joints. Sealing action is provided by the elastic deformation of the gasket material. The material of the gasket must be able to withstand high pressure and temperature.