Ultra Gray vs.Ultra Black?

[ChuckN]

I am doing some gaskets and I had a tube of black but it is a little old and hard to keep flowing. So I bought some gray, and I kind of liked the way Ultra Black behaved a little better, but maybe it's because is was older. Anyone have a preference of either of these or from another brand?

 

[Strick]

82180 Permatex Ultra Black is very close to GM spec. I use it most of the time.

Strickland

 

[DoubleDingo]

I've never used the grey. I switched from blue to black when I discovered the blue wouldn't hold back the oil. The black has kept the oil where it belongs, inside the engine.

 

[84-C20]

This is what a Permatex rep once told us.
Black and grey are very similar, but grey has more adhesive in it. Also the Grey will handle a little more heat, IIRC black is rated to 500, gray to 700F. At the shop we keep both in stock, but honestly I tend to use the grey more.

 

[Ricko1966]

The blue you were using was probably regular blue rtv. Which I think sucks. GM then came out with GMS good stuff,but the ultra Grey seemed just as good so that's what we used for years and I still use damn over 30 years now its never let me down.

 

[TotalyHucked]

I haven't tried the grey but have had good luck with the black

 

[bucket]

I use Ultra Black most of the time. It works very well. Occasionally I have used the Ultra Gray simply for cosmetic reasons, but it seems to have always worked equally well.

 

[82sbshortbed]

Also used black and have used an orange one before but can't remember the name of it. Both worked well.

 

[DoubleDingo]

The blue you were using was probably regular blue rtv. Which I think sucks. GM then came out with GMS good stuff,but the ultra Grey seemed just as good so that's what we used for years and I still use damn over 30 years now its never let me down.

It was. I didn't know about the other stuff. I learned a valuable lesson. The blue even leaked on a diff cover. I didn't have a gasket handy, store was closed, had to drain and refill. Applied the rtv, let it set-up, then bolted it on, not torquing it down or filling up the diff. I waited a day to that, and it leaked in a short amount of time. On the engine it was on the china wall. I think it was honkykong that mentioned the black and grey. So I removed the intake, which I hate doing work twice, sealed up the front and back with the black, and no leaks.

 

[Radiohead]

Wasn't ultra gray the original sensor safe material back in the day?

 

[84-C20]

Wasn't ultra gray the original sensor safe material back in the day?

To my recollection yes, but I think black is to now but not 100% sure

 

[bft305]

I went ultra copper for my intake manifold. Probably a little over kill, but doesn’t leak!

 

[ChuckN]

Thanks all! I just put my intake on and we’ll see how it goes. According to your glowing reviews, sounds like it will work just fine.