To RTV Or Not To RTV ?

[SHOBound]

I saw a thread talking about using silicon on parts while doing the 60k service. In your wise SHO Jedi opinions, what parts should you use silicon on ? Water pump, oil well seals, valve covers ? I'm doing the upper and front 60 by the way.

 

[Mr Anonymous]

Presuming you are using all new gaskets, only those places specified in the Helms manual. Never use RTV on the water pump.

If you are reusing the plugs well seals, a little RTV might help stop leaking if they are.

 

[91taurisho]

As Mr. Anonymous says, use rtv where helms manual says, you should.

The force is strong with this one my son...

 

[Blue-By-U]

I applied black RTV on the plug well seals and in the corners of my valve cover gaskets, as recommended by Mark Nunnaly in his 60k video.

 

[revhardSHO]

ive re-used many old valve cover seals and plug well seals by sealing with form-a-gasket.

no problems.

heres to saving $72.00 each time! beer

<small>[ March 03, 2004, 12:26 PM: Message edited by: smithsil ]</small>

 

[SHOBound]

smithsil:
heres to saving $72.00 each time! beer

Music to my ears.... beer

 

[sdpatt]

With every plug well lathered up by FPS with RTV as shown in the picture below, this engine had 6 spark plug wells full of oil at 60,000 miles after the FPS service was done. The plug well in the image had been cleaned before removing the valve covers.

RTV does not guarantee a leak-free valve cover or plug well seal. You must also realize that there are two sides to each seal and the RTV is normally only applied to the lower face. With the effort required to access the plug well seals, spending the extra $72, at a frequency of every 120,000 miles of travel, is hardly exhorbitant.

 

[Dr. Tweak]

What Scott said.

And Scott, I've got all red x's again...


Also the places where you should use RTV are in my guide. (The upper 60k pics still need to be replaced however, look for this coming week hopefully) thumb

<small>[ March 03, 2004, 01:16 PM: Message edited by: JDLangevin ]</small>

 

[revhardSHO]

sdpatt:
With every plug well lathered up by FPS with RTV as shown in the picture below, this engine had 6 spark plug wells full of oil at 60,000 miles after the FPS service was done. The plug well in the image had been cleaned before removing the valve covers.

RTV does not guarantee a leak-free valve cover or plug well seal. You must also realize that there are two sides to each seal and the RTV is normally only applied to the lower face. With the effort required to access the plug well seals, spending the extra $72, at a frequency of every 120,000 miles of travel, is hardly exhorbitant.

Most likely the oil was leaking around the side that had not been RTV'd. You cant really use that as an example on why you shouldnt use RTV.

I do both sides of each plug well seal and each valve cover seal. Thus far (currently 100K on re-used seals), everything is still holding strong. Thats proof enough for me.

Id much rather do the extra 30-40min in labor than go out buy a new valve cover set. I can spend the saved money on other maintenance stuff for the car. But again, this is just me.

 

[Dr. Tweak]

How do you get the old seal out without breaking it? Every time I pulled old ones out they were so brittle they just broke into pieces...

For the extra money I would just get new ones every time.

That's like unplugging the coolant level sensor because it isn't working and leaving it like that.. slap

 

[SHOBound]

no on the water pump ?? I saw on shophoenix project there was silicone around the new water pump.

 

[revhardSHO]

JDLangevin:
How do you get the old seal out without breaking it? Every time I pulled old ones out they were so brittle they just broke into pieces...

For the extra money I would just get new ones every time.

That's like unplugging the coolant level sensor because it isn't working and leaving it like that.. slap

Sometimes I get lucky and they pop out with just using my hands. Most of the time i work them out with a flathead (very gently of course).

If the seals are real brittle then yeah, I would go get a new set. Even if you get the plug well seals out intact, you should always visually inspect before applying RTV... if any bare metal is showing I would again invest in a new set.

Josh have you seen "The Passion" yet? MUST SEE! Very well done.

Im working on the Trinity thing...sorry for the delay. You know, SHO stuff is always getting in the way.

 

[Dr. Tweak]

SHOBound:
no on the water pump ?? I saw on shophoenix project there was silicone around the new water pump.

That's just to hold the gasket in place when you put the waterpump back together so it doesn't go sliding all over the place... the manual acually says to use "gasket adhesive", RTV does the trick.

 

[sdpatt]

On that water pump O-ring in the block, just make sure that you do not get the RTV between the pump and the block as this will increase the gap and lessen the sealing perssure on the O-ring - like a shim between the pump and block. Make sure that the RTV is only under the seal in the groove in the block.

 

[Bizzy]

I RTV both sides of used plugwell seals. No leaks here. IT does save a bit of money, and keeps the plugs nice and dry.