When to Oil or grease Gaskets?

Just a general question really, aimed at the newer trained Guys as much as us old timers.
I have a colleague who insists on greasing gaskets wherever he can.
I tend to use Silicone Grease nowadays, but don't use it all the time.

What's everyone take on this?
Cheers Grizzly

I use silicone grease for o-rings, leak-lock on gaskets and fittings for gas tight sealing, copper grease on high temperature gaskets or a molybdenum grease.

I would use grease on most gaskets for a few reasons.
One to hold in position & two to keep suple for easy removal next time like on a compressor.
If not greased expect to have to chisel off due to being baked on, like a head gasket.
Most OEM would say oil gasket.
Others may say it is contamination.
Years ago graphite grease was or can be used & gaskets were reused.
Some gaskets are graphite impregnated like Danfoss, which can be reused if not torn
Do whatever works for you, some don’t know why they do it, just how they were shown.

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Copper grease where required and then I use the oil from the system.
If a gasket is proving awkward to hold in place until it is closed up I
do use a bit of silicone grease, but rarely.

Rob

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So copper grease on ammonia, is it like anti-seize or something like that?
Whatever the case use it sparingly.

I use the compressor oil or nylog.

Hi Guys!
Copper Grease on Ammonia.
I know from doing vehicle Maintenance the Copper grease is excellent on High temp stuff and its anti seize properties are used Where Brake calipers are concerned.
But I thought Copper gets eaten by Ammonia?
Grizzly

..

:D

No not on Ammonia

I mostly use the comp oil, that is what fingers are for,
now how do you spell dermatitis............... :)

Rob

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Hi,

generally compressor oil ...

grease in small amount only if need to keep gasket in place during re-installation ...



Best regards, Josip

I always used compressor oil on the gaskets.
Anti-seize on flanges or something like Vilter head gaskets. Definitely go with Nickel base anti-seize on NH3.
I did have an oil analysis done on a Frick screw. Came up with Nickel. The only explanation we could come up with was anti-seize on the gaskets.

Hi Grizzly
I have always used grease on gaskets for the reasons Ranger stated.
Years ago it was graphite grease but now would use moly grease but always sparingly.
I put the grease on the gasket not the machine surface. I have seen people paint it on with a brush and it gets in the bolt holes, eventually the holes fill with grease and instead of pulling down on the gasket the bolt pulls up on the grease when torqued, result leaking joint.
I have used silicone grease on O rings only.
Regards
Paul

Compressor oil, or nylog, but have used hylomar blue on a difficult to seal receiver gasket before.