I have been told by several reputable Small Engine repair facilities when they install a new head gasket that they spray High Temp Aluminum spray paint on both sides of the head gasket and install when still wet. This makes for a better seal durring installation. Allways of course use the proper torque specifications and sequence when tightening head gasket!

Duke

In little-British-sportscar-land a copper spray is used in a similar fashion.

Chip

Several companies still market the copper spray. It has been used in the old car restoration hobby for years, as it was used originally on a lot of old engines. It's high temp., and fills small voids in the mating surfaces.

If the mating surfaces of your head and block are within (or pretty close to) spec.s with no bad gouges, etc. then the standard gaskets are more than capable of holding a seal.

I also use the "Copper Spray"--I think by K/W..and let it sit for a few minutes until tacky.....I torque the botls (I always use new GR-8) ...just 'cuz it make ME feel better....
Run a few hours--let cool off--the re-troque...Maybe a third time after running a few more under load...

Well where I was born and raised up for all of my first forty some years we had a company that made finger nail polish or paint now the greyhound buses use it on all there gaskets NO they didn't pay for it because it was the colors that didn't match what the wanted rather than through it away they gave it to greyhound and the city buses used it also.