I am really new to Hondas and I get all kinds of advice that helps and confuses.

I am not in the process of changing the head gasket on a 1995 Del Sol and I am not sure what I need to do.

I have been told by mechanics to use and not use Permatex Copper Spray On Gasket on the head gasket itself i.e. two coats on each side.

I also talked with the machinist who resurfaced the head and he stated that it should be used.

I also talked with a couple of Acura/Honda experts that said not to use.

My question is: DO I USE IT OR NOT?? AND
if yes, after applying the two coats on the gasket, how long do I wait to before installing?
In the same mode, after placing the gasket on the block and setting the head, do I wait to torque or is it mandated that it torqued in a specific time period.

Any advice would be appreciated and any additional instructions would also be appreciated.

 

Don't use it. Modern gaskets are coated with a sealing material and additional sealer will interfere with it. A Fel-Pro stock type gasket is marked "USE NO SEALANT" right on it.

Make sure the head and block surfaces are perfectly clean and dry.

 

get a Genuine Honda head gasket and you should be good. No copper spray needed.

 

check for warpage on the block and the head.

 

You're going to get conflicting opinions here as well, OP. I have used the copper spray on every head gasket job I do, and have had zero issues. Would they have had issues if I hadn't used it? No way to tell. All I can say is that so far it hasn't caused an issue, and therefore I'll mostly likely continue to use it.

 

I dont ever use it.