The Ford Barn

ursus · 08-11-2025, 02:46 PM

I just laid some probably 40 year old cork oil pan gaskets on a "B" block and was surprised to see them about one inch short overall, likely due to shrinkage. I recall some advice to soak such dried and shrunken cork gaskets in water to rehydrate them back to spec. Is this advisable or should I toss them?

My previous exercise in replacing an oil pan involved paper gaskets that required enlarging some of the bolt holes because they were punched in the wrong places. Can anybody recommend a properly sized brand of pan gaskets? Thanks much!

nkaminar · 08-11-2025, 03:02 PM

Yes, you can soak them to bring them back to size.

Joe K · 08-11-2025, 03:17 PM

Soak in SAE30 oil.

Or what you have handy. It's not like there will be a large transfer of oil between the gasket and the oil pan.

Joe K

butch chase · 08-11-2025, 08:54 PM

my father taught me to soak cork gaskets in warm water to bring them back to size. use a pan big enough to lay them flat while soaking. its worked for 65 years.

CWPASADENA · 08-11-2025, 11:02 PM

Just today I had to soak some gaskets in water to get them back to size.

I would try water on your pan gaskets first before I would consider using oil.

My opinion,

Chris W.

katy · 08-12-2025, 10:00 AM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

I've seen cork gaskets soaked in water too long and they became oversized, so be careful if/when soaking in water.

ursus · 08-12-2025, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by katy

I've seen cork gaskets soaked in water too long and they became oversized, so be careful if/when soaking in water.

katy's cautionary post prompted me to check the gaskets that had been marinating in a pan of water. After 16 hours they had miraculously swollen to the proper dimensions!

ursus · 08-12-2025, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by katy

I've seen cork gaskets soaked in water too long and they became oversized, so be careful if/when soaking in water.

katy's cautionary comment prompted me to check on the gaskets that had marinated overnight in a pan of water. After 16 hours they had miraculously swelled up to the proper dimensions!

Will N · 08-12-2025, 10:16 AM

Off topic, but related. Anyone remember the Saturday Night Live skit about cork soaking?

Joe K · 08-12-2025, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Will N

Off topic, but related. Anyone remember the Saturday Night Live skit about cork soaking?

Off color euphemism.

My fear in using water would be for the gasket to "rust" to the mating metal parts. Maybe not a problem since so many gasket "attach" by virtue of compression between the metal parts, but I work very hard to remove rust - not create more.

Joe K

Hitman · 08-12-2025, 11:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe K

Off color euphemism.

My fear in using water would be for the gasket to "rust" to the mating metal parts. Maybe not a problem since so many gasket "attach" by virtue of compression between the metal parts, but I work very hard to remove rust - not create more.

Joe K

Not even an issue worth mentioning for several reasons.

nkaminar · 08-12-2025, 08:25 PM

Regarding rust from a wet gasket. You just need to pat them dry with rags or paper towels. Once the engine warms up the remaining moisture will evaporate. If you use a light smear of gasket cement it will isolate the moisture in the gasket and protect the steel and cast iron surfaces.

Brentwood Bob · 08-12-2025, 08:51 PM

I learned to spray with aluminum paint after soaking. That may create a barrier to rust.

08-11-2025, 02:46 PM	#1
ursus Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Oregon Posts: 1,462	Oil Pan Gasket Dilemma I just laid some probably 40 year old cork oil pan gaskets on a "B" block and was surprised to see them about one inch short overall, likely due to shrinkage. I recall some advice to soak such dried and shrunken cork gaskets in water to rehydrate them back to spec. Is this advisable or should I toss them? My previous exercise in replacing an oil pan involved paper gaskets that required enlarging some of the bolt holes because they were punched in the wrong places. Can anybody recommend a properly sized brand of pan gaskets? Thanks much!

08-11-2025, 03:02 PM	#2
nkaminar Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Western North Carolina Posts: 5,860	Re: Oil Pan Gasket Dilemma Yes, you can soak them to bring them back to size. __________________ A is for apple, green as the sky. Step on the gas, for tomorrow I die. Forget the brakes, they really don't work. The clutch always sticks, and starts with a jerk. My car grows red hair, and flies through the air. Driving's a blast, a blast from the past.

08-11-2025, 03:17 PM	#3
Joe K Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Cow Hampshire Posts: 4,610	Re: Oil Pan Gasket Dilemma Soak in SAE30 oil. Or what you have handy. It's not like there will be a large transfer of oil between the gasket and the oil pan. Joe K __________________ Shudda kept the horse.

08-11-2025, 08:54 PM	#4
butch chase Member Join Date: Feb 2019 Location: Polk County Mssouri Posts: 42	Re: Oil Pan Gasket Dilemma my father taught me to soak cork gaskets in warm water to bring them back to size. use a pan big enough to lay them flat while soaking. its worked for 65 years.

08-11-2025, 11:02 PM	#5
CWPASADENA Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: PASADENA, CA Posts: 1,931	Re: Oil Pan Gasket Dilemma Just today I had to soak some gaskets in water to get them back to size. I would try water on your pan gaskets first before I would consider using oil. My opinion, Chris W.

08-12-2025, 10:00 AM	#6
katy Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Red Deer, Alberta Posts: 5,715	Re: Oil Pan Gasket Dilemma Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) I've seen cork gaskets soaked in water too long and they became oversized, so be careful if/when soaking in water. __________________ If you don't hear a rumor by 10 AM, start one!. Got my education out behind the barn!

08-12-2025, 10:16 AM	#9
Will N Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 1,251	Re: Oil Pan Gasket Dilemma Off topic, but related. Anyone remember the Saturday Night Live skit about cork soaking?

08-12-2025, 08:25 PM	#12
nkaminar Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Western North Carolina Posts: 5,860	Re: Oil Pan Gasket Dilemma Regarding rust from a wet gasket. You just need to pat them dry with rags or paper towels. Once the engine warms up the remaining moisture will evaporate. If you use a light smear of gasket cement it will isolate the moisture in the gasket and protect the steel and cast iron surfaces. __________________ A is for apple, green as the sky. Step on the gas, for tomorrow I die. Forget the brakes, they really don't work. The clutch always sticks, and starts with a jerk. My car grows red hair, and flies through the air. Driving's a blast, a blast from the past.

08-12-2025, 08:51 PM	#13
Brentwood Bob Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: brentwood, ca Posts: 4,420	Re: Oil Pan Gasket Dilemma I learned to spray with aluminum paint after soaking. That may create a barrier to rust.

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