Is this gasket missing something?

[A930Rocket]

I’m going to work on the cooling system of the 330 this weekend and was going to buy a couple of spare thermostat gaskets.

The original gasket was flat. Looking online, I found this Fel-Pro gasket, but it’s missing a small red line. Two different vendors show the same gasket, both missing the red line.

Why is this? Is it a defective product picture?

[masraum]

I'm not a structural engineer or machinist.

My guess is that that portion is solid enough and far enough from the cavities that they just aren't worried about it leaking, so there's no need for the sealant stuff.

[asphaltgambler]

Dunno but that looks like it’s was done on a Friday afternoon @4:30. I’d get another and compare. The red bead is designed add a dam if you will, sealing the oil, coolant, etc. that bead should encircle the passage

[Chocaholic]

If you’re concerned (and I don’t think you should be), a shmear of sealant can be added for peace of mind. Problem solved.

[rusnak]

I always apply some Curil-T even on water pump gaskets, just to be sure.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by masraum

I'm not a structural engineer or machinist.

My guess is that that portion is solid enough and far enough from the cavities that they just aren't worried about it leaking, so there's no need for the sealant stuff.

Yeah but even if that's the reason why not just finish it off?

Doesn't hurt anything.

Feels lazy and cheap.

It's one of things that would be living rent free in my head making me worry cause I'm neurotic.

[cockerpunk]

id look up the OEM seal, and either use that, or match the markings.

[Scott Douglas]

Applying what I was able to pickup from the stress analysts working on the birds I worked on, the red material doesn't really need to be in that area since the sphere of torque on that particular bolt probably intersects the end points of the red stuff. By not putting it there they may have saved not only time to put it there but also material costs as well. Now it may not seem like a lot of either would have been saved by not laying it down, but when you multiply that amount by say a million, that adds up. We all know how the bean counters of the world have made our lives all the richer for their efforts.

[gacook]

Originally Posted by Scott Douglas

Applying what I was able to pickup from the stress analysts working on the birds I worked on, the red material doesn't really need to be in that area since the sphere of torque on that particular bolt probably intersects the end points of the red stuff. By not putting it there they may have saved not only time to put it there but also material costs as well. Now it may not seem like a lot of either would have been saved by not laying it down, but when you multiply that amount by say a million, that adds up. We all know how the bean counters of the world have made our lives all the richer for their efforts.

My thoughts exactly. A penny saved on each part equates to real money after a million or so fabricated.

[A930Rocket]

It may cost $.000002 to install at the factory, but as SM says, it'll be in my head constantly, as I drive to the track, on the track and back home.

I ordered a couple and we'll see what happens.

Edit: I ordered a couple of the standard gaskets as well. Fortunately, it only takes 30 minutes to replace it.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by A930Rocket

It may cost $.000002 to install at the factory, but as SM says, it'll be in my head constantly, as I drive to the track, on the track and back home.

I ordered a couple and we'll see what happens.

Edit: I ordered a couple of the standard gaskets as well. Fortunately, it only takes 30 minutes to replace it.

I wouldn't be surprised to find that the felpro has the red and the standard gaskets don't have it at all. I know that back in the day FelPro made really good stuff.

[KNS]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

It's one of things that would be living rent free in my head making me worry cause I'm neurotic.

I'm going to borrow that line - classic!

I was working on my E46 over the weekend, I had the cabin filter tray off and was reinstalling. I dropped one of the Torx fasteners behind the firewall and into the darkness - it's bugging me now...

[masraum]

Originally Posted by KNS

I'm going to borrow that line - classic!

I was working on my E46 over the weekend, I had the cabin filter tray off and was reinstalling. I dropped one of the Torx fasteners behind the firewall and into the darkness - it's bugging me now...

That would suck. And on top of just knowing that it's down there, if it was my car, it would end up in a spot where I heard it rattle when driving.

[herr_oberst]

^ Amazon sells a camera for 30 bucks for peering into our small, dark places. It even has a magnet to retrieve torx fastners.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

^ Amazon sells a camera for 30 bucks for peering into our small, dark places. It even has a magnet to retrieve torx fastners.

Using a magnet on a stick to grab an errant small item (nut, bolt, screw, washer) that's in between 2 ferrous metal plates is going to be a nightmare. But it might be worth a shot. It would depend upon access.

[herr_oberst]

I guess I should have said boroscope, and the magnet fits the end of the lighted head. It's sheathed in plastic so it doesn't stick on the way down.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

I guess I should have said boroscope, and the magnet fits the end of the lighted head. It's sheathed in plastic so it doesn't stick on the way down.

Nice!

[KNS]

That's cool - herr_oberst!

[A930Rocket]

And, there is no red sealant there. I might put a little dab of RTV there.

[herr_oberst]

Maybe it's a safety gate, If it fails, fail this way, little gasket.