Gasket Sealant? Or not to Gasket Sealant?......

Gentlemen,
I have my 72 Ford 5000 disassembled at the moment hopefully fixing an oil pressure problem and while it is, I am replacing several parts. I'm guessing there are no shortage of opinions on sealants......but my question is: to seal or not to seal? ....and what brands/products?

Replacing the oil pump which comes with a new three hole 2 bolt gasket?
Cast iron oil sump......I will be cutting my own gasket for this one, seal it?
New exhaust manifold w/new gasket, use high temp sealant?
Valve cover gasket?

As always your input is appreciated, Dave
 
No sealant on the oil pump or manifold gaskets. I also would not advise cutting my own gasket for the oil pump.

Though generally not a fan of gasket sealant of any kind, sealing the gasket to the rocker cover (only) is an exception to the rule.

Dean
 
IF you do use a sealant, I would recommend High Tack
by Permatex, as Dean said to hold the gasket to the
rocker cover while installing it. Makes it easier,
and seems to help give a good seal. You could do
the same thing with the oil pan especially since you
are thinking of making your own gasket. Just follow
the directions on the can, clean the surfaces
thoroughly, and don't glop too much on. -Will
 
Some Chrysler dealerships don't even use gaskets.
They just glob on RTV and bolt things together.
I know that because that's how they put the transmission pan back on
one of my vehicles and I had to replace the tranny 6 months later when it
was all plugged up and wouldn't work. :evil:
Since then, I've been leery of using gasket sealers unless needed, and then sparingly.
I agree with the others about using a light coat on the pan side of the valve cover gasket.
Hi tack works well. I have used a light coat of RTV blue with good results too.
The key is not to use too much. Just a film.
If you have to use sealant on your manifold, it will need to be hi-temp, but
unless you have some bad pitting they will usually seal without it if cleaned well.
 
On Chryslers FWD had black RTV. That stuff was as tough as nails. RWD had gaskets...only. Figure that one out. Also Truck A/C people thought orifice tube was the greatest. Car A/C people thought expansion valve was...go figure.
 

I rarely put sealant on any gasket, but there are instances where I do, such as valve cover, oil pan, engine front cover, generally where you need to have "help" to keep the gasket in the right place during assembly. I also like High Tack by Permatex. I put it on one side only, that being the one that will be easiest to scrape the gasket off from when it needs to come apart again. RTV silicone is virtually never a good idea, because it can squeeze out, break loose, and go and block an oil gallery.
 
Valve cover... if it's got the steel backed neoprene... reuse it or buy one and TORQUE TO SPEC.
The pan gasket, IIRC, is a rubberized gasket. If I was determined to make one I'd probably use a skin of ultra blue over it on both sides to cover my errors. For both the exhaust and oil pump I'd just buy the right gaskets and use them dry without sealant. None of those gaskets are so expensive that it's worth the time to not buy them.... except the cover gasket... and that's reusable.

Rod
 

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