Cork oil pan gasket install..sealant or no sealant?

[2QUIK6]

Ok, I've been saying I've had excellent results with the rubber Felpro pan gaskets...well after a year of no leaks, it has all of a sudden started leaking bad and its definitely seeping out around the gasket...

So I've ordered a thick cork one....and the question is, should I use any RTV or Ultra-Black sealant with it?
If so, how much and on both sides?
Or just at the main and front cover joints?

Thanks

 

[Joe Tiano]

just a smear at the front cover& rear main joints..if you put rtv on a cork gasket it will not allow it to swell and seal..you ever seen a wine bottle with a cork in it?...did it have any sealer of any kind on it! ..good luck

 

[deadhorse66]

just a smear at the front cover& rear main joints..if you put rtv on a cork gasket it will not allow it to swell and seal..you ever seen a wine bottle with a cork in it?...did it have any sealer of any kind on it! ..good luck

Agreed. RTV can be used as a substitute entirely, but that can be very messy and sometimes tricky to do without smearing the bead during install. I have used weatherstrip adhesive in very light amounts to secure such gaskets to the desired surface, and it can be a very helpful just to keep from fighting the gasket on install. Other than that, just some RTV on the joints like the man says...

 

[2QUIK6]

Thanks, I'll use my little trick of tying the gasket to the pan with fine string during the install to hold the gasket in place till a few bolts are in.

 

[MSDGN]

Have to disagree...I have a girdle installed and a cork pan gasket...I used a thin smear of the Right Stuff on both sides of the gasket and haven't had a drop of oil leak...

 

[disco stu]

Have to disagree...I have a girdle installed and a cork pan gasket...I used a thin smear of the Right Stuff on both sides of the gasket and haven't had a drop of oil leak...

Yep, I have had leaks dry, so I put just enough of a smear of Right stuff on my cork one this time to color the gasket and it is bone dry. Then I put it on and snugged it just until it was making full contact, and then I torqued it once it was cured. Not a drop.

 

[Joe Tiano]

I would think.. a girdle would be the exception!..as far as the girdle goes, I think it should have a O ring reciver groove machined into it..on the panrail side of it..thats just 1.. of a few improvments I can think of as far as the girdle goes..later

 

[Marc87GN]

I have an RJC girdle, RJC Deep pan and bought their much thicker cork gasket and put it on dry with the proper torque spec(88 in-lbs) and 250+ miles later have no leaks.

Now that I think about it, when I was an MB tech, we never used pan gaskets, but a HD MB RTV that you had to pry the pan off because it was so strong. Also on the rear diff, no gasket. I will have to get some of this RTV from my friend.