Lesson 3.6: Not allowing the full cure time before returning to service

Mistake #6: Not allowing the full cure time before returning to service

All gasket makers and flange sealants need some time to cure before the assembly can be put back into service. Failure to wait the correct amount of time can compromise the integrity of your seal.

The Newer Oxime(Neutral Cure) RTVs require a longer time to set up and cure enough to have blowout protection. The procedure is to hand tighten the bolts, wait 1 hours to toque it to spec and 24-hours to achieve the full cure that’s needed before adding fluids or returning the vehicle to service.

Anaerobic flange sealants and gasket makers need about an hour to cure. Anaerobics require between 1 – 24 hours to cure without an activator. When used with an activator that process is sped up to between 15 minutes to 4 hours to cure. Anaerobic also need to be torqued together to start the curing process.

However, there is one RTV gasket maker that can be put back into service faster, and that’s Permatex The Right Stuff®. This formula allows you to simply ‘torque and go’ with a 1 minute or 90 minute return to service time.