What is the Correct Method to Install O-Pan Gasket

[Mishakol129]

Hi all. i just got done taking off my oil pan (took me a while, my first time) because of a leak from a previously failed gasket job. I used a steel brush attached to a dremel and cleaned the gasket surface REALLY good as there was a LOT of RTV on it. I am using the Fel-Pro permadry silicone gasket (a hefty 20$). I will also be using, because someone recommended it, permatex silicone spray.

I wanna know what I should do exactly since I have heard about a hundred different ways of doing it (well not a hundred, that's an exaggeration).

I am thinking of just gluing the gasket to the pan with the permatex and then using some rtv on the corners and the humps of the rear main end as the manual says to. The manual I have (Honda manual) says to only use RTV there but not anywhere else, and it also says to torque to 10 ft lbs (which I will, unlike last time *DOH!*)


So what would you do? I would like to get some tips / tricks for this, everybody has their own methods and I would like to hear them.


Thank you very much..

[cb7rush]

i did mine a couple months back. I just followed my manual and everything went ok. nothing really special about an oil pan gasket. I did not use a silicone spray and my only concern about what youve done so far is using that dremel. make sure you didnt go down too far and mess up the surface.

[Mishakol129]

i did mine a couple months back. I just followed my manual and everything went ok. nothing really special about an oil pan gasket. I did not use a silicone spray and my only concern about what youve done so far is using that dremel. make sure you didnt go down too far and mess up the surface.

It wasn't a heavy brush, all the wires on it ended up flying off of it. The aluminum was a lot stronger than it so its no biggie.

Now I got to clean up the block, surely should not us the dremel there, chance of something flying somewhere its not supposed to.


So the only RTV was on the humps of the main seal end and that's it?

Some people i've read have real problems getting O pan gaskets to seal.

[Bad_dude]

I would imagine it's like installing an up side down valve cover. Gasket and RTV red in the corners. Once the bolts are on, it tighten press on the gasket to seal right? But thinking the oil pan has even an surface and around corners. It does not have the dented down corners like a valve cover humps. So I don't think RTV is even necessary. I could be wrong. I only did it once on an 87 Corolla.

[Mishakol129]

I would imagine it's like installing an up side down valve cover. Gasket and RTV red in the corners. Once the bolts are on, it tighten press on the gasket to seal right? But thinking the oil pan has even an surface and around corners. It does not have the dented down corners like a valve cover humps. So I don't think RTV is even necessary. I could be wrong. I only did it once on an 87 Corolla.

Yes it is like a VCG but not exactly. I know that someone recommended using the adhesive spray for one reason: To make sure the gasket stays in place as it is set in place. I would imagine though that I must not wait for the adhesive to completely dry before I set it in place on the block or it may not seal right.

[Mishakol129]

I would imagine it's like installing an up side down valve cover. Gasket and RTV red in the corners. Once the bolts are on, it tighten press on the gasket to seal right? But thinking the oil pan has even an surface and around corners. It does not have the dented down corners like a valve cover humps. So I don't think RTV is even necessary. I could be wrong. I only did it once on an 87 Corolla.

There is one dented down side but they are only on one side, so yes, the manual calls for RTV only there.

[Mishakol129]

I would imagine it's like installing an up side down valve cover. Gasket and RTV red in the corners. Once the bolts are on, it tighten press on the gasket to seal right? But thinking the oil pan has even an surface and around corners. It does not have the dented down corners like a valve cover humps. So I don't think RTV is even necessary. I could be wrong. I only did it once on an 87 Corolla.

Here is what the exact manual says to do.




No sealant except at the dip. You gotta use something on the bottom though if you want it to seat without any difficulties. Its like playing with a wet noodle without it glued to the pan. I just wanna know how I should glue it to the pan.

[dj_ender]

I didn't glue my gasket to anything nor did I use any rtv. I set the gasket on the oil pan, slowly raised the pan to the block, made sure the gasket was still where it was supposed to be, installed a bolt, checking to make sure the gasket was still in the right place, and installed the rest. Then I torqued them all to 10 ft/lbs, no leaks whatsoever.

Have you checked that the oil pan isn't warped? This really shouldn't be a hard repair, it's quite easy in fact.

[Mishakol129]

I didn't glue my gasket to anything nor did I use any rtv. I set the gasket on the oil pan, slowly raised the pan to the block, made sure the gasket was still where it was supposed to be, installed a bolt, checking to make sure the gasket was still in the right place, and installed the rest. Then I torqued them all to 10 ft/lbs, no leaks whatsoever.

Have you checked that the oil pan isn't warped? This really shouldn't be a hard repair, it's quite easy in fact.

How do I check if its warped? If it is warped, how can I repair it?

It could be warped but I am not hoping on it, I didn't suspect any warpage its just the way I put it on last time was an epic FAIL.


Yeah I guess the bolt holes on the gasket aid in getting it seated right, I don't know if i wanna do it that way. Some people use the glue for extra ease of installation I guess.

[wed3k]

when i torqued them to 10 ft lbs, the rubber squished out. i tighten to 6ft lbs

[Bad_dude]

I didn't glue my gasket to anything nor did I use any rtv. I set the gasket on the oil pan, slowly raised the pan to the block, made sure the gasket was still where it was supposed to be, installed a bolt, checking to make sure the gasket was still in the right place, and installed the rest. Then I torqued them all to 10 ft/lbs, no leaks whatsoever.

Have you checked that the oil pan isn't warped? This really shouldn't be a hard repair, it's quite easy in fact.

I guess the hardest part is to take the exhaust off to get to the pan. Rust and stuck bolts. Other than that, being on your back with your neck raised. The worse part working under a car, including the freaking oil change. Lol.

[dj_ender]

How do I check if its warped? If it is warped, how can I repair it?

It could be warped but I am not hoping on it, I didn't suspect any warpage its just the way I put it on last time was an epic FAIL.


Yeah I guess the bolt holes on the gasket aid in getting it seated right, I don't know if i wanna do it that way. Some people use the glue for extra ease of installation I guess.

set the pan upside down on a known flat surface, see if it sits flat or not.

[Mishakol129]

when i torqued them to 10 ft lbs, the rubber squished out. i tighten to 6ft lbs

Seriously? What kind of gasket did you use? If it was OEM your wrench must have been out of calibration.

[wed3k]

doubt it, snap on unit

[Mishakol129]

set the pan upside down on a known flat surface, see if it sits flat or not.

Well i'll be damned, it is warped... What to it fix please?