this side upIf a tree falls in the forest and no one is there to hear it, does it make a sound? Which came first, the chicken or the egg? Which side of a gasket needs to face up? Ok, maybe a gasket having sides isn’t one of the great hypothetical questions of our time, but have you ever really thought about it? Believe it or not, there are instances where it matters. Whether you have spent any time debating this with others or not, here are a few things that you need to know.

This Side Up

Here’s how to know if your gasket has a “this side up”.

1. Fitment and Alignment

Some gaskets are nearly identical on both sides, but often there is a slight alignment issue either for the bolt holes or ports. Be sure to have the proper side so it assembles properly.

2. Surface

Some gaskets are directional, meaning they only go one way. This can be for heat purposes. For example, our single-sided Armor material is designed to go with the hot side against the head surface and the soft side against the irregular surface of the manifold/header.

3. Coatings

Sometimes gaskets are coated to aid in their performance. It is possible to apply an anti-stick coating to only one side to aid in removal. Similarly, some gaskets will have a PSA (pressure-sensitive-adhesive) applied for assembly. This also must be applied to the proper side.

What Happens If I’m Wrong?

Well, the good news is that not all gasket designs require a specific side to be up. If you use a gasket where it does matter, and you get it wrong, you’ll definitely know it. Some of the issues you may see include leaking due to port alignment, crush due to bolting issues, sticking if the coating is on the wrong side, etc.

If you flip the gasket over and still see issues, you may have a problem with the joint or the gasket material being used. Talk with your trusted gasket material supplier. They may be able to provide some insight into the problems that you are encountering to help with your troubleshooting.

Until next time! If you are interested in subscribing to Sealed-In’s blog posts, email sales@mtigasket.com.

The Why’s and How’s of Coating Your Gaskets
There are many reasons why one might coat a gasket. The motive may vary, but one thing is certain – a quality coating is necessary. Today, we’re going to look at some of the reasons why you may want to coat your gaskets as well as the types of coatings you should be seeking out and how they may be applied. Continue reading for some of the why’s and how’s of coating gaskets.
How To Decide If Your Gaskets Need An Anti-Stick Coating
When deciding what characteristics you need in your gasket, most people start with the basics – what type of material is necessary and what thickness is needed. Another consideration that sometimes needs to happen is whether or not the gasket needs an anti-stick coating. Our cost-conscious readers might cringe a little at the thought of this because adding an anti-stick coating does add some cost to your gasket, but can you afford not to do this?
The Great Gasket Debate: To Reuse or Not To Reuse
As an expert resource that knows gasket material inside and out, we’re going to break down some of the arguments for and against reusing, and what you need to consider when making that decision for your application. And maybe…there is a time or two that it really might be ok to reuse one.
Thinking of Using a Gasket To Insulate Against Heat? Here Are 4 Considerations.
Gasket materials that have insulative properties can be a perfect fit for your application in so many ways. Keep reading for a list of considerations if you are trying to decide if this would be the answer to your problem.
Armor (AR)
The Metal Tech Armor series of products consist of perforated metal outer layers applied mechanically to one or both sides of a compressible center layer material. Available with carbon or stainless steel, the high strength steel outer layer protects the inner sealing layer for long term performance.

this side up

If a tree falls in the forest and no one is there to hear it, does it make a sound? Which came first, the chicken or the egg? Which side of a gasket needs to face up? Ok, maybe a gasket having sides isn’t one of the great hypothetical questions of our time, but have you ever really thought about it? Believe it or not, there are instances where it matters. Whether you have spent any time debating this with others or not, here are a few things that you need to know.

This Side Up

Here’s how to know if your gasket has a “this side up”.

1. Fitment and Alignment

Some gaskets are nearly identical on both sides, but often there is a slight alignment issue either for the bolt holes or ports. Be sure to have the proper side so it assembles properly.

2. Surface

Some gaskets are directional, meaning they only go one way. This can be for heat purposes. For example, our single-sided Armor material is designed to go with the hot side against the head surface and the soft side against the irregular surface of the manifold/header.

3. Coatings

Sometimes gaskets are coated to aid in their performance. It is possible to apply an anti-stick coating to only one side to aid in removal. Similarly, some gaskets will have a PSA (pressure-sensitive-adhesive) applied for assembly. This also must be applied to the proper side.

What Happens If I’m Wrong?

Well, the good news is that not all gasket designs require a specific side to be up. If you use a gasket where it does matter, and you get it wrong, you’ll definitely know it. Some of the issues you may see include leaking due to port alignment, crush due to bolting issues, sticking if the coating is on the wrong side, etc.

If you flip the gasket over and still see issues, you may have a problem with the joint or the gasket material being used. Talk with your trusted gasket material supplier. They may be able to provide some insight into the problems that you are encountering to help with your troubleshooting.

Until next time! If you are interested in subscribing to Sealed-In’s blog posts, email sales@mtigasket.com.

The Why’s and How’s of Coating Your Gaskets
There are many reasons why one might coat a gasket. The motive may vary, but one thing is certain – a quality coating is necessary. Today, we’re going to look at some of the reasons why you may want to coat your gaskets as well as the types of coatings you should be seeking out and how they may be applied. Continue reading for some of the why’s and how’s of coating gaskets.
How To Decide If Your Gaskets Need An Anti-Stick Coating
When deciding what characteristics you need in your gasket, most people start with the basics – what type of material is necessary and what thickness is needed. Another consideration that sometimes needs to happen is whether or not the gasket needs an anti-stick coating. Our cost-conscious readers might cringe a little at the thought of this because adding an anti-stick coating does add some cost to your gasket, but can you afford not to do this?
The Great Gasket Debate: To Reuse or Not To Reuse
As an expert resource that knows gasket material inside and out, we’re going to break down some of the arguments for and against reusing, and what you need to consider when making that decision for your application. And maybe…there is a time or two that it really might be ok to reuse one.
Thinking of Using a Gasket To Insulate Against Heat? Here Are 4 Considerations.
Gasket materials that have insulative properties can be a perfect fit for your application in so many ways. Keep reading for a list of considerations if you are trying to decide if this would be the answer to your problem.
Armor (AR)
The Metal Tech Armor series of products consist of perforated metal outer layers applied mechanically to one or both sides of a compressible center layer material. Available with carbon or stainless steel, the high strength steel outer layer protects the inner sealing layer for long term performance.

this side up

If a tree falls in the forest and no one is there to hear it, does it make a sound? Which came first, the chicken or the egg? Which side of a gasket needs to face up? Ok, maybe a gasket having sides isn’t one of the great hypothetical questions of our time, but have you ever really thought about it? Believe it or not, there are instances where it matters. Whether you have spent any time debating this with others or not, here are a few things that you need to know.

This Side Up

Here’s how to know if your gasket has a “this side up”.

1. Fitment and Alignment

Some gaskets are nearly identical on both sides, but often there is a slight alignment issue either for the bolt holes or ports. Be sure to have the proper side so it assembles properly.

2. Surface

Some gaskets are directional, meaning they only go one way. This can be for heat purposes. For example, our single-sided Armor material is designed to go with the hot side against the head surface and the soft side against the irregular surface of the manifold/header.

3. Coatings

Sometimes gaskets are coated to aid in their performance. It is possible to apply an anti-stick coating to only one side to aid in removal. Similarly, some gaskets will have a PSA (pressure-sensitive-adhesive) applied for assembly. This also must be applied to the proper side.

What Happens If I’m Wrong?

Well, the good news is that not all gasket designs require a specific side to be up. If you use a gasket where it does matter, and you get it wrong, you’ll definitely know it. Some of the issues you may see include leaking due to port alignment, crush due to bolting issues, sticking if the coating is on the wrong side, etc.

If you flip the gasket over and still see issues, you may have a problem with the joint or the gasket material being used. Talk with your trusted gasket material supplier. They may be able to provide some insight into the problems that you are encountering to help with your troubleshooting.

Until next time! If you are interested in subscribing to Sealed-In’s blog posts, email sales@mtigasket.com.

The Why’s and How’s of Coating Your Gaskets
There are many reasons why one might coat a gasket. The motive may vary, but one thing is certain – a quality coating is necessary. Today, we’re going to look at some of the reasons why you may want to coat your gaskets as well as the types of coatings you should be seeking out and how they may be applied. Continue reading for some of the why’s and how’s of coating gaskets.
How To Decide If Your Gaskets Need An Anti-Stick Coating
When deciding what characteristics you need in your gasket, most people start with the basics – what type of material is necessary and what thickness is needed. Another consideration that sometimes needs to happen is whether or not the gasket needs an anti-stick coating. Our cost-conscious readers might cringe a little at the thought of this because adding an anti-stick coating does add some cost to your gasket, but can you afford not to do this?
The Great Gasket Debate: To Reuse or Not To Reuse
As an expert resource that knows gasket material inside and out, we’re going to break down some of the arguments for and against reusing, and what you need to consider when making that decision for your application. And maybe…there is a time or two that it really might be ok to reuse one.
Thinking of Using a Gasket To Insulate Against Heat? Here Are 4 Considerations.
Gasket materials that have insulative properties can be a perfect fit for your application in so many ways. Keep reading for a list of considerations if you are trying to decide if this would be the answer to your problem.
Armor (AR)
The Metal Tech Armor series of products consist of perforated metal outer layers applied mechanically to one or both sides of a compressible center layer material. Available with carbon or stainless steel, the high strength steel outer layer protects the inner sealing layer for long term performance.