Gasket Sealant/Dressing

[Dave 2]

I'm having a bit of confusion over the type of Sealant/Dressing to use for reinstalling the oil pan . What I ended up buying is a Permatex product called Hylomar Universal Blue Racing Formula Gasket Dressing and Sealant. It is described as, "A Polyester Urethane Sealant...Non-Hardening and Non-Setting...Withstands Multiple Assembly and Disassembly Operations". Do any of you have experience with this? What else have members used? Thanks. D2

[tvrla]

I don't think any sealer is needed on the pan gasket. If you do use sealer, seal it to the pan and not the block - next time it needs to come off it'll be a mess if it's glued to both. And it's much easier cleaning gasket material off the pan mating surface than the block.

Sounds like good stuff you got - but don't think I've used it before. I have used something like it from NAPA that's gray and has worked well for me. A good way to use that stuff is to apply only a very thin layer, then put it in position with the bolts holding it to the surface, but not cinched down. That way the stuff can harden without squishing out all over the place. An hour or two later, or even the next morning, torque the fasteners.

[Mike V]

I don't think any sealer is needed on the pan gasket.

+1 on wirespokes comments Dave.

I would recommend cleaning both gasket surfaces (engine and pan) very very well and applying the new gasket dry with the lettering side up towards the engine case.

[Barry]

Read somewhere that the gaskets have some sort of impregnated sealant which is activated by heat so any additional sealant is undesirable as well as being unnecessary.

[tvrla]

...applying the new gasket dry with the lettering side up towards the engine case.

I believe the gasket will only fit one way - if I recall correctly. As with any gasket surface - thoroughly remove old gasket material and clean well. The smoother the better!

[Dave 2]

Thanks for your comments. I don't know if the PO had put sealant on both services because the oil pan was very hard to remove, and both surfaces had goop on them. The Clymer Manual calls for dressing on both sides, however I think I will follow wirespokes advice and be sure to have the gasket right side up. Thanks again. D2

[tvrla]

One other thing - these little six millimeter bolts can be easily over-torqued, stripping out the threads in the block. If you're concerned about hem loosening up, coat them with some blue loctite instead. The threads can be helicoiled, but it's much easier to sidestep that issue entirely. As with tightening any steel bolts into aluminum go lightly!

[Dave 2]

One other thing - these little six millimeter bolts can be easily over-torqued,  

I do worry about that so I'll use the locktight and go easy on the torque. thanks.D2

[davidpdx]

I have used Hylomar Universal Blue Racing Formula to seal the primary chain case on my old Triumph and it has done a good job. It does not set up for at least a year or so and can be cleaned up with as acetone.