Hello everyone, I'm new here so try not to beat me up too bad. I have found a lot of info on here the past couple of days. I am working on a 2000 xj for a friend of mine that she was having overheating issues with. I have figured out thanks to this forum that it has the famous 0331 head that happens to be cracked. I am waiting on all my parts to arrive as I already have it torn apart. My question I have for you is I am reading threw the Haynes manual and it says to coat both sides of the new head gasket with Perfect seal sealing compound or equivalent. Do I really need to do this? The threads I have been reading threw on here don't mention anyone doing this. I have replaced a couple of heads on other cars and never heard of this either. Thanks for any help as I want to get everything back together by this weekend.

Welcome to the forum!
Most modern head gaskets need no sealant. If in doubt, contact the gasket mfr.

I should add that one of the head bolts (#11, maybe?) requires sealant. Because of this, it needs to be torqued to a slightly lower final value. Your Haynes manual should have this info.

Thanks for your help. Yeah I remember reading about putting loctite on bolt #11, I just never heard anything about putting sealant on the HG. Another question I got for anyone that may have an answer, does anyone have any tricks on how to get a deep well socket along with a torque wrench on the far back right head bolt. I couldn't even get my deep well socket with the ratchet on it let alone my torgue wrench. I had to use a wrench to get it off.

Well I looked up the manufacture online and downloaded there generic manual on there products. It says not to use any kind of sealing compound when installing a new head gasket. So I guess that takes care of that and besides I never remember anyone else using it. I just have to go out and buy some Loctite 592 for bolt #11. Thanks again.

One more question. I'm trying to get ahold of some Loctite 592 but it seems to be hard to come by. Does anyone know where I can find some? I tried Auto Zone, Advance Auto Parts, Lowes and they don't carry it. I'm gonna try Napa tomarrow morning. The manual also said that I could use an equivalent to Loctite 592, does anyone know the equivalent to it? Thanks for your help, I'm trying to get this all together so I can put this back together Friday.

I also recently replaced an 0331 cracked head... I used permatex 59214 thread sealant for my #11 head bolt.

I would guess that a Teflon thread sealant would work.

Thanks everyone for your help. I went out this morning out in the garage before work and found that I have a tube of Permatex 59214 hanging on the wall. So now I don't even have to go out and buy it. Thanks again.

Well I got everything back together this weekend and so far so good. Nothing leaking or burning. Thanks again for the help.