Why you should never use RTV silicone on gaskets 

yup, used a cork ebay gasket on an oil pan once, didn't have a torque wrench rated for inch-lbs, had to go back later with the recommended rtv

Same here.

What brand do you recommend?

@@fightintheshade Permatex.

Right. I always use the right stuff on every gasket. Works great. Never get leaks.

I've gone without it for years with no problems so why make a mess for next time you have to remove it and risk clogging oil flow?

Thanks. We are doing good. You do the same.

I’m sure they are still doing this thinking it’s a good thing. Maybe they will watch the video and learn something.

Hello Dave. Looking forward to that video. I've had terrible luck with differential cover gaskets. Its to the point where I only use the gear oil rated Permatex and no gasket. I also let it set up for 48 hours before putting any fluid in if at all possible. Did this when I replaced the seals in the front D44 of my 98 Ram same as you did. No leaks!

Agree with El Cheapo, loose the gasket and put a nice bead of ultra gray on it and you’ll be golden. I’ll watch for your vid as well. Blessings gents.

*skim coat

Q: What’s the best way to skim it? What side of the gasket should it be applied to? The engine side or the cover side. Thanks

@@ryanflaherty3153 Ryan, "skim"-coat is when you properly apply "skim-milk" to BOTH surfaces of the part(s) to be assembled, before applying the gasket-sealer itself.

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

IMO diy gone wrong

He would have been better off completely removing the old gasket and applying a continuous bead of RTV and letting it set up for 15 - 20 minutes before torquing it down.

@@lizardking8388 Just a guess, but, the bolts were loose, so he probably put a big bead of silicone on the oily gasket, put it on finger tight, and then forgot to tighten after 20 minutes. The previous mechanic is lucky he's not replacing a motor TBH.

atleast they should of used black 1 minute gasket maker

There should be laws against it for sure.

Amen

Yes

For this reason.

On subaru boxers you are actually suppose to supplement the valve cover gasket with rtv in several areas before reinstall.

Haha. Will do brother.

@@ThecardoctorTV Well, close enough. (ha ha)

@@ThecardoctorTV even tho you film from Alaska I been watching your vids to fix cars in the south no rust here. and south main auto is nothing but rust 3 different places thanks tim

Sorry for nitpick, but i live in Fairbanks - he’s in Anchorage.

@@matthewbrice737 He knows and is just trying to pump my nads. How is spring so far up there? I still have snow in my yard here.

My father in law was the other guy. Putting silicone caulk on everything! Cringe worthy.

The vandals took the handles

Thank you! I do all my own alignments so that works out well for me and my customers.

She’s the best!

Correct, same thing happened with me when I put RTV on my gasket to the trans pan. I only put it on one side and that was the only side leaking

The squirming on a oil pan gasket has happened to me on a brand new gasket why is that? i used no silicone and on even low torque it looked to squish around to much just like you said

I appreciate the vote of confidence but sadly after driving a short distance the customer returned complaining of vibration on acceleration. I had replaced one of the CV driveshafts while it was here and the part was defective. I felt like an idiot and should have test drove it better (not just 50')

@@ThecardoctorTV wasn't a Dorman shaft was it?😉

All of us have made that boo-boo, where after the fact, we stop and ponder about our intelligence,LOL. Guarantee that overlook did not harm your reputation!

I use high tac. It’s great. Super weather strip adhesive is excellent as well. Blessings.

Yea it's torn pretty good

Lmao! Those Vandals

No, it was just plain worn out. Haha

big time! haha

B YENZER, yes, this is what I believe as well - customer was a BIG bosomhead for NOT researching the task at hand, + properly reading the instructons!

No, its perfectly fine when you use it by itself

Toyota 4ag is the same way. Alot of older hondas use just rtv on their oil main rear main to block and timing chain covers.

I would never go camping with that guy if I were you. Haha

Cork gaskets were a terrible idea. Glad they stopped using those a long time ago

Assuming the two surfaces are not warped, gouged, burred and the cover actually fits proper and you are still leaking then I have a few suggestions. For me the only sealant issues I face are due to poor clearance or not enough room to work, thus scraping or knocking the gasket out of alignment or smearing sealant (example- sliding an oil pan back into a 4wd truck). This shouldnt be a problem with a rear end so I'd rule that out and move to the next most common issue I face which is over tightening the bolts. Make absolutely sure you are using a torque wrench and torque to spec, never over or else you risk pinching the gasket. Let's say you know all this and have dont it correctly, yet it still leaks. How far apart are the bolts/bolt holes? More than a few inches? If so you may be missing gussets or hold downs. Generally flat or "L" shaped brackets that stretch from one bolt hole to the next and help press the area between the bolts down (often times covers are thin stamped steel and will bow between large gaps in bolts). Let's say none of this applies to you....one last trick to apply, is after getting your surfaces super clean and dry using brake cleaner so there is absolutely ZERO oily residue carefully make a 1/4" bead of black rtv all the way around on the surface of the pumpkin. When I say bead I mean a pretty, circular, wormlike bead. DO NOT smear or spread it, and DO NOT install a gasket or your cover yet. Leave the gasket out this time completely. Grab a beer and wait 10-30min (based on heat/humidity/location) until your bead is starting to be semi solid. It should still be tacky but not squishy (you should be able to leave a fingerprint in it, without it squishing out). At this point carefully and evenly press/install your cover onto the bead and work all your bolts evenly just a little at a time so one side doesnt pull in before the other. If this doesnt work and none of the rest work then it is clearly operator error, maybe a little outside your realm of expertise. Sometimes knowing how to do something doesnt mean you are good enough to do it or have the right touch. Definately not cutting you down, just have no idea what I'm dealing with and the problem seems really strange or like a problem a mechanic wouldn't have. Hope this helps. I'm happy to follow up if you have questions or want more info

@@TheMuddman74 I disagree!! This time of year it may be 2 beers!! You pretty much covered things. Rick

@@rickfreeman9530 haha! You're probably right. I miscalculate every time I drink! Cheers

I use rtv no gasket but get the Grey rtv is the best

The RTV Bandits must have been making the rounds.

Not recommended. Remove the gasket and use just RTV if possible.

Good stuff. I use the ultra gray in a lot of applications but once it dries it’s like cement. Haha.

@@ThecardoctorTV Yep I use it also

I paid someone to reseal an oil pan on my 99 corolla LE. He used the black oil resistance RTV. is this okay?????

@@ThecardoctorTV love the Grey stuff

Yes, we usually just pound them flat and slap it back on. It’s sealed up good now.

It was on the block as well but was able to scrape it off pretty quick. What a mess!

@@ThecardoctorTV Even as a DIY'er, I know not to use RTV with the gaskets. Otherwise, what's the point of using a gasket. Good to see you again. We've missed you for a while.

8.7 ft lbs. for the oil pan bolts here tightened in stages. The manual recommends using only liquid gasket sealer (not paper gasket)

I doubt it.

It looks like the silicone was from the last repair. They were very liberal with their application.

@@ThecardoctorTV I see that same problem all the time. People using three times too much silicone gasket maker, don't follow instructions. Just finished installing an oil pan on a 2004 Corolla. OEM used only some type of silicon sealer, no gasket. Went back with Ultra Black, had very little press out around the edge, no leaks. :)

oh wow, you mean the car I worked on drove all the way from here in Alaska to Eric O's shop in NY to fix my crappy vacuum hose repair??? hahaha

It would have been fine with just silicone or just a gasket but they don’t play well together. RTV Aline is probably the best for this application but I don’t like it because it’s impossible to get the pan back on without dropping more of the subframe or risk scraping half of the silicone off cramming it in there. I never used that orange stuff either.

You can use just rtv on oil pans. Dont put rtv on a gasket. Oil pans that have a grooved gasket you cant. Some manufacturers use just rtv on oil pans toyota 4ag is one off the top of my head. I know the 90s hondas use just rtv on the oil pump and rear main too block.

@@kylecalobtraceharper thanks!

If they sold gaskets, they'd say the opposite. 🤣

I guess it is just one guy and twenty cases of RTV hehe

Indeed

Silicone is slippery. Just causes the gasket to squish out when tightened.

That’s a great combo.

I try not to do those nightmare jobs. There’s a great 4X shop down the road I send them junkers to. I’m too old for that kind of work. Maybe I’m just lazy too.