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One PC Oil Pan Gasket RTV or No RTV


dejh22

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I put less then 50 miles on my rebuilt 396 and have an oil pan leak. It is in the rear of the pan. At first it was just a small drip when running. So I tighten the rear bolts just a little. Well I managed to make it worse. I know that might happen but I wanted to try to see if that would work. 

I have the pan out and have ordered a one pc Felpro  oil pan gasket. I'm not really knowing what is the correct method to install the gasket. I have spent the last few days online looking what others have done. I think it is a toss up. Some swear by rtv and others say dry. Also I see where it is advised to just add a  small amount in the corners. I read that the small amount should be on the block and then the gasket and I have read the gasket goes on and the rtv goes on top of the gasket corners. I also viewed a youtube video where a "builder" used a bead of rtv all around the block and a bead all the the gasket and bolted the pan down. He said he had done it this way for years and never a leak.

My head is spinning. What to do? LOL!

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When I installed my one pc gasket I put RTV on the corners only and no leaks. One thing I id have trouble with was getting the gasket on correctly.  I had forgotten about making  sure that the oil filler tube went thru the hole int he one pc. After cussing sand discussing with my self for a couple of hours I found why I could not get the gasket in place. Easy fix after that minor snafu was corrected.

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When I installed my one pc gasket I put RTV on the corners only and no leaks. One thing I id have trouble with was getting the gasket on correctly.  I had forgotten about making  sure that the oil filler tube went thru the hole int he one pc. After cussing sand discussing with my self for a couple of hours I found why I could not get the gasket in place. Easy fix after that minor snafu was corrected.

Did you put the rtv on the block corners or the gasket after it was on the block? Or both?   Thanks

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Definitely use rtv in the corners. I'm having the same problem at the moment. Engine leaked a little at first, tightened the bolts down and made it worse. I didn't use rtv on the oil pan at all and now I'm kicking myself.

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The pan gasket showed up today. What I did was apply a very thin coating of high tack permatex sealer around the bottom of the block. Just enough so just the outside of the gasket will be making contact with it. I let it firm up a little then put the gasket in. The engine is still in the car so to hold it in place I put all the bolts back in to apply pressure and hold the gasket in place. I'm going to leave it for today. Next I will back out the bolts and use studs hoping the high tack sealer does it's job and holds the gasket in place. I will them apply rtv in the corners and maybe around the timing chain cover in the front of the gasket. It is an after market timing  chain cover and the front oil pan gasket doesn't fit real snug around the bottom of the cover. That is what was done the fist time and the front did not leak. Then let it sit for a day. I hope this works because I'm off my meds and I might cuss! LOL!

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Definitely use rtv in the corners. I'm having the same problem at the moment. Engine leaked a little at first, tightened the bolts down and made it worse. I didn't use rtv on the oil pan at all and now I'm kicking myself.

 

I just wish there was  a "standard" way of installing a one pc oil pan gasket. I'm not joking, I spent hours researching online. Came up with nothing concrete. Your a fool if you use rtv and your a fool not to. Use a little, use a lot. +

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What I really liked about my fel-pro one pc gasket was the metal sleeves on each bolt so I could not over tighten the bolts. I think I torqued them to the specs that came with the gasket I THINK.  It has been over a year since I did all of that and my forgetterer works a whole lots better than my rememembererer does.

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NO RTV is needed.  10 years ago FelPro would have told you the same thing.  The key is drawing the pan to the block in an even manner.  The gasket is oversized in the valleys so it will appear to not be the right size or gasket when you try and pre-fit the oil pan.  The gasket in the valleys will be very compressed and tight once installed.  Best way to accomplish this is to use 1/4 to 1/2 inch longer than needed bolts at the corners.  Draw the pan to the block evenly until you can use the side rail pan bolts.  Once all bolts are drawing the pan to the block, remove the corner bolts and replace with the proper size corner bolts.  It's really that simple. 

 

I installed mine this way with NO RTV and never had a pan leak for five years.  Not sure after that as the car was sold.  I also torqued my pan bolts down to 30-35ftlbs at the corners and 20-25ftlbs on the rails all because of those metal sleeve inserts in the gasket.  IMHO, the FelPro one pc oil pan gasket is one of the best upgrade maintenance parts since whomever created sliced bread. - Dave

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The pan gasket showed up today. What I did was apply a very thin coating of high tack permatex sealer around the bottom of the block. Just enough so just the outside of the gasket will be making contact with it. I let it firm up a little then put the gasket in. The engine is still in the car so to hold it in place I put all the bolts back in to apply pressure and hold the gasket in place. I'm going to leave it for today. Next I will back out the bolts and use studs hoping the high tack sealer does it's job and holds the gasket in place. I will them apply rtv in the corners and maybe around the timing chain cover in the front of the gasket. It is an after market timing  chain cover and the front oil pan gasket doesn't fit real snug around the bottom of the cover. That is what was done the fist time and the front did not leak. Then let it sit for a day. I hope this works because I'm off my meds and I might cuss! LOL!

 

The high tack sealer did not work. Did not hold the gasket in place. So I used a thin coat of contact cement on the block and the gasket. Worked well for holding it in place. I put a little RTV in the corners and a thin coat of RTV on the front seal front and back side none on the bottom of the front seal. I started the corner bolts and the started from the center of the pan and worked from side to side working outward. Then went back and tighten them in the same method. Let it set for a day. Happy to report started it up tonight and NO LEAKS! 

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I just tell my friends- it's not leaking, it's sweating horsepower!!!

Well I thought I had it fixed. The next day it started leaking a drip or two again from the same location. I guess maybe I should of changed the rear seal while the pan was off. Just going to live with it now. 

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Well I thought I had it fixed. The next day it started leaking a drip or two again from the same location. I guess maybe I should of changed the rear seal while the pan was off. Just going to live with it now. 

 

That's what big cardboard boxes are for, right?

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