Napa marine gaskets

[Jmunk]

I am going to pull my manifold and riser this year on my 1998 3.0L Merc, and saw that Napa carries Sierra gaskets. I can get the entire manifold gasket kit for about $15.00. Anyone have any issues with the Sierra gaskets ? Should I just order the OEM ?

 

[Don S]

Re: Napa marine gaskets

Use the OEM gaskets between the manifold and riser for sure, not aftermarket.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Napa marine gaskets

I am going to pull my manifold and riser this year on my 1998 3.0L Merc, and saw that Napa carries Sierra gaskets. I can get the entire manifold gasket kit for about $15.00. Anyone have any issues with the Sierra gaskets ? Should I just order the OEM ?

Ayuh,.... They suck, as noted by Don, the Oem gasket is metallic carbon/ graphite, the others are green paper...

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Napa marine gaskets

Yes, there are certain things that you should not save money on, as it could cost you 100 X the savings. Those Sierra gaskets are one of those things.

 

[pyrotek]

Re: Napa marine gaskets

I'm about to install one of those green paper gasket that I got with my Osco manifolds. I have a hard time believing manufactuers of risers and gaskets (GLM, OSCO, Sierra, etc) are going to sell a cheap gasket for a few extra $ less, which makes their very expensive product look bad when it fails.

Do you actually have 1st-hand bad experiences with these gaskets, or is it just a theory? I tend to think the slightly softer paper gaskets will better absorb any non uniformities in the mating metal surfaces.

 

[pyrotek]

Re: Napa marine gaskets

Ayuh,.... They suck, as noted by Don, the Oem gasket is metallic carbon/ graphite, the others are green paper...

I just re-read that. Strangely Osco shipped the metallic carbon/graphite (I think this is what it is) for the exhaust manifold and the green paper gasket for the riser-manifold seal.

 

[Pete104]

Re: Napa marine gaskets

I'm about to install one of those green paper gasket that I got with my Osco manifolds. I have a hard time believing manufactuers of risers and gaskets (GLM, OSCO, Sierra, etc) are going to sell a cheap gasket for a few extra $ less, which makes their very expensive product look bad when it fails.

Do you actually have 1st-hand bad experiences with these gaskets, or is it just a theory? I tend to think the slightly softer paper gaskets will better absorb any non uniformities in the mating metal surfaces.

:facepalm:

Yes & yes! The papery cardboard holds moisture & deteriorates each time it gets wet. You would see this on a manifold/riser that lived in salt, when water started getting into the cylinders.

Cheap ain't Best!!!

By the way, somebody is going to tell you no hyjak'n! Start your own post!

 

[Don S]

Re: Napa marine gaskets

Strangely Osco shipped the metallic carbon/graphite (I think this is what it is) for the exhaust manifold and the green paper gasket for the riser-manifold seal.

Even automotive uses the graphite gaskets between the manifold and head.

I'm about to install one of those green paper gasket that I got with my Osco manifolds. I have a hard time believing manufactuers of risers and gaskets (GLM, OSCO, Sierra, etc) are going to sell a cheap gasket for a few extra $ less, which makes their very expensive product look bad when it fails.

How do you think they sell their cheap stuff so cheap? They cut corners, and those paper gaskets are a lot cheaper to make than the OEM. The OEM gaskets used paper years ago, but they learned.
Have fun with your paper gaskets, don't forget to change them yearly.

Also, after 20+ years of working on boats for a living, yes, there is a big difference in how long the oem lasts over the paper junk .

 

[Fun Times]

Re: Napa marine gaskets

I'm about to install one of those green paper gasket that I got with my Osco manifolds. I have a hard time believing manufactuers of risers and gaskets (GLM, OSCO, Sierra, etc) are going to sell a cheap gasket for a few extra $ less, which makes their very expensive product look bad when it fails.

Do you actually have 1st-hand bad experiences with these gaskets, or is it just a theory? I tend to think the slightly softer paper gaskets will better absorb any non uniformities in the mating metal surfaces.

Yes, I've also experienced this as well and just recently so has dan t.
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=537414&highlight=green+leaker

In the long run, it just may cost you less money to use oem parts.

 

[pyrotek]

Re: Napa marine gaskets

I'll run a OEM on the port side, and a aftermarket on the starboard. I'll let you know which fails first
I would be curious on what the aftermarket's response to this would be.

But I'm convinced. Hopefully the OP is as well. I'm not hijacking, I'm on topic.

 

[Don S]

Re: Napa marine gaskets

I'll run a OEM on the port side, and a aftermarket on the starboard. I'll let you know which fails first
I would be curious on what the aftermarket's response to this would be.

But I'm convinced. Hopefully the OP is as well. I'm not hijacking, I'm on topic.

Will be waiting for your reply in a year or so on the paper side failure, and 5 or so about the oem side.

 

[achris]

Re: Napa marine gaskets

I'll run a OEM on the port side, and a aftermarket on the starboard. I'll let you know which fails first
I would be curious on what the aftermarket's response to this would be.

But I'm convinced. Hopefully the OP is as well. I'm not hijacking, I'm on topic.

I hope you have a new engine ready to go in, because when that gasket lets go (and make note, I said when not if) and dumps a load of sea water into your engine, it's goodnight Gracie! For the sake of a few dollars you'd put the entire engine at risk... :facepalm:

Chris.....

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Napa marine gaskets

I got a set of the green paper ones for a Merc 7.4L, if anybody wants them?

They are still in the original packaging

 

[pyrotek]

Re: Napa marine gaskets

I was kidding about the one side green paper gasket. I'll use OEM. Thanks to the OP for asking the question, I would have installed the green stuff this weekend.

 

[nola mike]

Re: Napa marine gaskets

FWIW, the Mallory gaskets (at least for my engine) are the metal/graphite stuff that OEM uses. The Sierra are the green paper. And yes, the paper ones suck. They're about the same price.

 

[Jmunk]

Re: Napa marine gaskets

I went to my local Mercruiser dealer today, I got the OEM gaskets and thermostat cheaper then anywhere online and cheaper then Napa's prices for their aftermarket stuff.