gasket and sealer questions

[mainjet]

I am changing some gaskets on my "new" engine before putting it in the car. My questions are about the felpro gaskets and when I need to use sealer.

Water pump and Timing cover gaskets are the "plastic" kind
35351
TCS45971
My haynes manual says use RTV to both sides of the new gasket. Y/N

Throttle body, Plenum gasket
61024
MS95744
Paper type with the sealer bead pre applied to one side. Put on dry?

[GR8racingfool]

I think my Meziere electric water pump came with the plastic gasket you speak of. None the less, I hate leaks, and used RTV on both sides. I used the Permetex Ultra Gray.

I installed a good, but used water pump on my girl friends GTP not long after she got it. I didn't use a gasket at all, I used nothing but RTV. What are we, 7 years now like that...and its still not leaking. Its a daily driver for her...so if that says anything.

TB to UIM, be it a plastic/aluminum intake plenum or the supercharger, you can install them dry. I would suggest to install them dry too.

On my car, I have a GenV and a LS1 TB, so my adapter plate has RTV on both sides of it, and the back side of my TB does too. Ultra Gray as well was used.

hope that helps ya some.

~F~

[mainjet]

Thanks for the reply. No body was showin' me any love so I called Rock Auto. LOL

The rep called FelPro while I waited on the phone. FelPro said as a general rule - all of their gaskets are ready to go as is without additional sealer unless stated otherwise. He then went on to say that they actually would not suggest the use of RTV with their gaskets as it may break down the gasket coating and void the warranty. He said that the only time to use it would be if the metal surface were to be pitted then use a spray on adhesive to insure that the gasket seals.

It was pretty much what I thought but I just wanted to hear someone say it. Do I think that RTV would really destroy the gasket? Not really. In fact if it did mess up the coating you still have the RTV sealing it so your good anyway. But it just looked like the gaskets were designed to not use RTV.

So thanks again for your input. You are a brave soul to step forward. I salute you

[BillBoost37]

Install WP and TB dry. Unless you like to fight RTV goop the next time you swap it out.

[mainjet]

Hey! Who says there is going to be a "next time"?

Thanks for the info.

[BillBoost37]

"It's my first time", as a buddy and I like to say.

FSM says dry install on those and I have used the plastic gaskets in teh past. No worries about sealing as long as the surface is clean and you torque things properly.

[GR8racingfool]

Well, FelPro also says to install their "new and revised" pan gasket dry, no RTV required.

I feel like doing the job once, and only once, so every pan gasket on a W-Body I do gets RTV on both sides. What they say is only a suggestion...

~F~

[BillBoost37]

Well, FelPro also says to install their "new and revised" pan gasket dry, no RTV required.

I feel like doing the job once, and only once, so every pan gasket on a W-Body I do gets RTV on both sides. What they say is only a suggestion...

~F~

If you are doing a steel pan sure.. there's no other way. This is why I'm using engine sealant and an aluminum pan though.