Oil Pan Seal
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 100
Likes: 1
From: Andover MN
Oil Pan Seal
Is it alright to install the oil pan, on a small block, with something like "The Right Stuff" from permatex and not use any gasket or seals? I have had my oil pan off three times and still leaks. Put dye in the oil and can trace the leaks. Each time I had it off I used a one piece gasket and it did not help. Any experience with no gasket????
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,946
Likes: 28
From: Long Beach CA
If you're using a quality one-piece gasket, like the Felpro, and it continues to leak, there's something wrong with the pan or the block. Check the flanges/mounting holes on the pan, and also check if the pan itself is warped.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,428
Likes: 5
From: Japan
To answer your question, NO, it won't work mounting the pan without a gasket. I have always used the regular 4-piece gasket sets, and I glue the rail gaskets down onto the block rails with a thin bead of yellow 3M weatherstrip adhesive. This is important because it keeps the rail gaskets in place and keeps them from moving around while you bolt up the pan. The rest of the seals I seal with Permatex GRAY hi-temp RTV along their LOWER surface only, and just like the instructions say I put a small dab at each corner of the end seals. Sometimes you have to trim the little tabs on the ends of the rail gaskets so they fit properly into the notches in the end seals. And I don't tighten the bolts much beyond when they begin to pinch the gaskets. You'll also want to make sure you're not running too high an oil level and that you're not getting excessive blow-by which would overpressurize the crankcase and cause oil leaks. Take your time and make sure everything's nice and clean beforehand and it'll be fine.
