Installing a new gasket!

[G0ldRush]

In my book a good way to install a new gasket is:
Start with the part you are installing ex: pump, valve cover, oil pan etc.
First scrape and clean both clean the surface. On the part you are installing apply a thin coat of RTV ultra black and put on your gasket over it (always use cork gasket) to hold the thing together take some bolts nuts and large washer and tight by hand and let dry 4 hours. When this is done remove the bolts and apply a medium coat of RTV and use a scraper to equalize the surface make sure there is no rtv in the holes. Let this dry one hour, now your ready to install your part where it goes by simply first step tight by hand and 1 hour later re-tighnening to specifying torque. You will never had a leak this way...RTV ultra black with cork gasket are miracle I'm telling you folks.


Good Luck

[J-Ri]

I would suggest you never use a cork gasket. They always leak a little bit, especially when submerged in fluid (as in a trans pan gasket). Synthetic rubber is the way to go. They'll never leak a drop. Also, I'm afraid that letting the RTV dry before installing the part may make parts that attach to that part not line up right.

I apply a bead of "The Right Stuff" (a step up from UltraBlack) to the part, apply the gasket, apply another bead of "The Right Stuff" to the gasket, tighten finger tight, wait a few minutes, and torque to spec. I've done literally tens of thousands of gaskets like that and never had one leak. Throw the cork gasket away and use nothing but RTV if you have to, the only gaskets I've ever had come back on me were cork.

[G0ldRush]

Originally Posted by J-Ri

I would suggest you never use a cork gasket. They always leak a little bit, especially when submerged in fluid (as in a trans pan gasket). Synthetic rubber is the way to go. They'll never leak a drop. Also, I'm afraid that letting the RTV dry before installing the part may make parts that attach to that part not line up right.

I apply a bead of "The Right Stuff" (a step up from UltraBlack) to the part, apply the gasket, apply another bead of "The Right Stuff" to the gasket, tighten finger tight, wait a few minutes, and torque to spec. I've done literally tens of thousands of gaskets like that and never had one leak. Throw the cork gasket away and use nothing but RTV if you have to, the only gaskets I've ever had come back on me were cork.

I just replaced a oil pan gasket that was synthetic rubber and it was all wet and leaking the thing you didn't understood about what I explained is as long the cork is seal both side equally with his thickness is the best an less expensive so you got your style I got mine you see my stuff never leak and yours either so everyone is happy.

[J-Ri]

I wasn't insulting your method, just adding my own experiences. Was the synthetic rubber gasket old and from an engine that didn't have the oil changed on time? Of course I didn't mean that a synthetic rubber gasket will literally never leak. Sulfuric acid buildup in old engine oil will make any gasket leak. Cork was the first gasket there was, and then synthetic rubber was developed. If cork was better than synthetic, then the more expensive synthetic gaskets wouldn't sell because nobody would pay more for an inferior product. I'm sure you just want to help someone out, but in the long run the synthetic gasket will last longer. I'm not arguing that cork isn't cheaper, but there is absolutely nothing that I would suggest going the cheap route on. Ever. For any reason. I'm an automotive technician by trade, and if I open my mouth (or start typing), I really do know what I'm talking about (and if I'm guessing, I say so). If I'm not 100% sure about something I just sit out and listen. I'm not trying to put you down here, but I don't want someone to end up doing a job 3 times because the first cork gasket they get leaks so they assume they just got a bad one, then the second one leaks, then they finally try something else that works.

[Airjer_]

If you want the best RTV get a tube of the grey Audi/volkswagen gasket maker. There isn't anything this stuff won't seal up! Its expensive but well worth it!

[J-Ri]

I think it's very similar to "the right stuff", I see very few VWs, but have had to scrape it off a couple times and it feels/scrapes/smells just like the right stuff. Are you able to compare the two from experience? Always looking for something better

[Classicrocjunkie]

Gm's RTV they sell is like $20 per tube, let it set and its like concrete. Thats what they seal the oil pans in the OHV's with.

[Airjer_]

Never used the right stuff. I did my first VW aluminum oil pan a few years back and they shipped a tube with the pan. I started using it on other things just to experiment. It lasts/works better than anything else I have ever used. I would bet that it is real similar to the GM grey RTV. Its made by loctite but apparently you can only get it through the dealer?