In liquid-cooled engines, the sealing of the cooling circuit of the engine’s head and cylinder relies mainly on gaskets and O-Rings. When it comes to threaded coolant inlet and outlet fittings, however, it is essential to pay close attention to their sealing ability, in order to optimize not only performance, but also the reliability of the engine itself. For this reason, there are products specifically created to ensure fastening and sealing, such as Loctite 577, a medium-strength, low-pressure sealant, suitable for application on all types of metal for conical and cylindrical metal fittings. It is a thixotropic liquid (that is, one with a high density and a great degree of viscosity) - a feature that minimizes the risk of liquid product leakage after application. Furthermore, Loctite 577 cures when confined in the absence of air between close fitting metal surfaces. Consequently, the lower the bonding gap between the threaded screw and its seat, the higher the solidification rate will be, remaining in any case a very rapid process, since it varies from about 10 minutes at 40°C to about 40 minutes at 5°C. Timing that allows the use of Loctite 577 even on the track, between driving sessions. How to use it? The advice is to apply a 360° bead of product around the threads, leaving the first thread free of product, then proceed with normal screw tightening. Lastly, we would like to remind you that Loctite 577 – if we are talking about water-cooled engines – can also be applied to the threads of the bolts which fasten the head to the cylinders. In reality, the seal between these elements should be guaranteed by gaskets or O-Rings, but the use of Loctite on the bolts can also be added as an additional form to guarantee a proper fit.

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