A mechanic mate of mine was telling me the other day that one place he works at a couple of days a week  does not put water in a engine that has been apart for the first start up. They let it idle for approximately 4 minutes then switch it off, let it sit over night and the next day the water/coolant is added. Presumably this cures the gaskets during the slow cool down, he claims they have never had any customers complain of leaking gasket, and never had a blown head gasket after useing this method. Any comments, any one else heard of this.  

Pete, one of the Aussie mob. Beechworth, Victoria60 F100 Panel Van, Y-block. 65 Galaxie Country Sedan 390