I-5 motor: Gasket sealer or forget about it???

[Drew MacPherson]

My experience has been that good quality gaskets will seal with well 
prepared and undamaged surfaces.  The only time I vary from this procedure 
is if the manual calls for a sealant to be used along with the gasket.

Make sure that the gasket surfaces are clean and free of oil/grease 
(degreaser of choice - I use brake parts cleaner)  Fasteners should also 
be free of rust/dirt and the threads lightly oiled, so as not to interfere 
with torque readings as you tighten them with your calibrated torque 
wrench.

If the surfaces are not true (ie dented or damged valve cover/oil pan) 
then you will not get a reliable seal.  Use of a sealing compound such as 
RTV usually accomplishes little more than clog up oil return holes and oil 
pump pickup screens (or thermostats if you use it in the water jacket.)

YMMV,

Drew

On Tue, 6 Apr 2004, Ameer Antar wrote:

> I'm looking for some advice about using a gasket dressing or RTV on my newly rebuilt engine block. I know there's no need to put anything on the head gasket, but my concern is for the oil pan gasket, front oil pump gasket and the valve cover gasket. BTW, I'm using the windage tray so I have 2 oil pan gaskets... don't know if that makes much difference wrt gasket dressing. I'm just wondering if the gasket  dressing would be useful for these areas or actually cause more harm than good. When I pulled the engine from the car, it was covered in oil...I think mostly from the pan and rear seal, and of course a little from the valve cover. I would like to avoid a repeat of that or having to fix a leaky gasket. Any advice on this or any other place I will need it?
> 
> Also regarding this... what type of gasket sealer is best to use? I have red high-temp RTV and HPF Hylomar too. The HPF Hylomar is a little weird cuz it doesn't cure... just stays sort of goopy. Don't know if that's good for some areas or what, but I'd love to hear some advice/explanations. Thanks much.
> 
> -Ameer
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