More rear main seal Questions

[Fish'nCarz]

I need to replace the rear seal on my 2001. The oil pan gasket is about a month old, (new style, rubber). Will I need a new gasket or will I be able to reuse this one? Finally, what brand and type of gasket sealant works best in these applications where you only need a few spots of it?

 

[87manche]

the rubber one should be reusable, provided you don't damage it taking it back apart.
I would use RTV Red or Black, whatever the gasket/seal maker recommends.

 

[riverfever]

87 is correct. Me, being somewhat paranoid, I would replace it anyway. I think I paid 19 bones for a good rubber gasket from NAPA in St. Louis. I paid about 40 for the same damn one here in CO. Did you use a torque wrench and tighten it to spec? If you went by feel...you could have crushed it and perhaps it wont seal again. Just throwing that out there though.

I used NON-CORROSIVE, NON-ODOR blue RTV.

 

[Fish'nCarz]

Okay. I'll buy a gasket and save the reciept just in case I can re-use the old one. Beats riding my son's bike to NAPA!

I thought blue rtv was for coolant system stuff (blue = water?) Have I heard wrong?

What is the difference in the kinds of sealant anyway? Do some set up harder or faster? Or is it temperatures they are spec'ed for, or pressure? Niether Haynes nor the FSM are really clear on that.

Thanks again for the help!!

 

[87manche]

just go to the permatex website, it will show all of the uses for different types of RTV. Yes it has to do with temps they can withstand and what not.

 

[Saudade]

There is a "sensor safe" flavor that's blue. He may be referring to that one. I don't know about the non-odor though. They all smell!

As far as different types, it depends on the application. Some set hard like cement, others stay flexible. Some are made for oil/gas environments, some for high temps. Some made for use with gaskets (or gasket material), some are used instead of a gasket.

While this link deals only with Permatex products, it can give you an idea of the factors driving sealant selection.

http://www.permatex.com/resource_auto_prodselect.htm

 

[Saudade]

DANG Manche, you musta beat me by mere seconds.......

 

[Fish'nCarz]

Once again, you guys rock!

 

[riverfever]

If you look at the packages, some will say non corrosive, non odor. If you use one that doesn't say that on aluminum, it will eat away at it. I used it on my thermostat housing and water pump and it ate enough away to cause a leak within a year.

There is a "sensor safe" flavor that's blue. He may be referring to that one. I don't know about the non-odor though. They all smell!

As far as different types, it depends on the application. Some set hard like cement, others stay flexible. Some are made for oil/gas environments, some for high temps. Some made for use with gaskets (or gasket material), some are used instead of a gasket.

While this link deals only with Permatex products, it can give you an idea of the factors driving sealant selection.

http://www.permatex.com/resource_auto_prodselect.htm

 

[87manche]

I would use RTV black on an oil pan. It's got the highest resistance to oil, and it's what was likely on there OEM.

 

[5-90]

Use Black for G/P, use Red for elevated temperatures (near the exhaust...) and use Copper for anything self-grounding or for bolstering exhaust gaskets.

Blue? I wouldn't use the stuff to stick two bits of paper together. It's never worked for me...

Use Black for the oil sump, and USE A TORQUE WRENCH! 7 pound-feet/84 pound-inches for the 1/4" bolts, and 11 pound-feet/132 pound-inches for the 5/16" bolts in the corners!

If you need to get replacements, you should be able to use 1/4"-20x3/4" for the smaller bolts, and 4 pcs. 5/16"-18x3/4" for the larger corner bolts. I'll usually replace them with stainless or brass anyhow, depending on what I can get my hands on. If I can find my torque screwdriver anywhere (I know I had one...) I'll use Pan Head Phillips brass machine screws, just to be different...

5-90

 

[LBEXJ]

I have found, that with any RTV, the trick is to make sure you have removed all the oil film from the surfaces before applying the sealant. I use brake cleaner to wipe down the mating surfaces.

Les