Yukon Jack
1/2 ton status
On advice of a pretty knowledgeable guy I used a brush on GM gasket sealant on many of my gasket surfaces. Haven't fired the engine yet. Seems to hold the gaskets in place fairly well. Like $8 or $9 bucks for a can.
CK5
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RTV Question
- Thread starter Hossbaby50
- Start date
My $.02 -if you are useing a gasket use gasket cement to hold it place during assembly. RTV is good if you have a pitted surface -like most of the aluminum in my Pontiac's engine or something that gets sevriced often -like the diffs on my truck (I know you West coast guys don't have to, but we have water on the trails here).
SCOTTS_4X
1/2 ton status
as far as gaskets slipping out of the mating surface, you might want to try not torquing the bolts to a bazillion ft lb. and if you are using the rubber gaskets on the valve covers try cleaning the surfaces really good and using some gaska-cinch. that crap is liek super glue, works very well. oh, and cast aluminum valve covers will seal flat 20 times before you get a stamped steel one to do the same.
oh, and I use the orange and black, never had a problem, as long as you clean it right and apply, it shoudl last a good long time.
-Scott
oh, and I use the orange and black, never had a problem, as long as you clean it right and apply, it shoudl last a good long time.
-Scott
I was talking more about slipping during assembly. In the past I puting it all together dry and things tend to fall in the dirt. If you tried to over torque that 3800 you would just pull the threads out. The water pump area & t-stat housing were pitted and had been off at least once before when I got it. I would not have trusted a gasket on that surface. I may be wrong but IIRC the valve covers are composit not alum.
I have always used RTV and a gasket with no problems. I have also used only one or the other and the only time I have had water leakage was with the gasket only. There is nothing wrong with putting some RTV on both sides of a gasket and then installing. I like the added insurance. I use blue for t-stats and water pumps and red for everything else. Torque everything to specs with a proper torque wrench and you will be fine. BTW use gloves when using silicone as it is a PIA to get it off once your hands are smeared with it.
I use the caulk gun filled with tubes of The Right Stuff from Permatex for pretty much everything...
