Hylomar

We were somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the drugs began to take hold. I remember "Dave Plowman (News)" saying something like:

They've probably changed the formulation over the years, for certainly I've had ancient tubes remain useable.

That's not good, then :-( That stuff used to do a decent job... I've not yet found an equivalent here in the US. I did have one engine (in the UK) that someone had gooped up with regular old silicone - a large chunk broke off internally, blocked a waterway and caused the head gasket to fail. Was less than happy!

I think it is now made under licence by more than one company. But you're right - I had some in a near empty tube which was still ok. Perhaps H&S or whatever has required a solvent change?

It's very good at blocking carb jets and oilways too. I think ye olde British biker, used to leaky, badly fitted cases, and paper gaskets, tended to go a bit OTT when the newer methods came along. I for one remember smearing a crank case gasket on a my Ducati, with a bit of RTV 'just to make sure': it dissolved parts of the gasket and leaked like a sieve, so I soon had to do it again - with just a smear of grease on the gasket...