Rear Main Seal

[stefan]

Gasket or no gasket? When I tore down my B6 there was only some white RTV.. My lower set came with a gasket... do I use the gasket or the RTV?

Also which RTV would be the best for the oil pan... my set did not come with a gasket.. permatex ultra black? I assume I put a bead between the splash shield and the block and another bead between the splash shield and the pan?

[jglutz]

RTV only for a rear main....never saw such a thing.

Oil pan.....http://http://www.fordfestiva.com/fo...ad.php?t=11953
Don't make the mistakes I did

[stefan]

RTV only for a rear main....never saw such a thing.

Oil pan.....http://http://www.fordfestiva.com/fo...ad.php?t=11953
Don't make the mistakes I did

Im not sure what you mean by how you worded that... do you mean only use rtv, or do you mean you've never seen that and I should use a gasket?

You link dosent work for me..

[jglutz]

I read your post that when your stripped the engine, there was no rear main seal, only RTV. I had never seen RTV only for a rear main seal or....for any rotational seal.

I don't recall ever using RTV for a rear main, maybe for the mounting flange or bolts...but not for the seal.

Actually most of the seals I've installed are lubed with motor oil prior to installation to ease with assembly and prevent the hard material from galling.

[stefan]

DOH!! My bad.. I was the one wording things wrong... Im talking about the plate that the rear main seal gets pressed into... Yes, My rear main seal is a standard round rotational seal, both the new one and the old one. Im talking about the seal between the plate that the rear main gets pressed into, and the block. In-between the block and the plate there was just white RTV from factory, but my lower kit came with a paper gasket.. That is what im asking for advice on, use the gasket, or RTV?

Thanks for your help again jglutz!

[jglutz]

Oh yeh...a little RTV won't hurt between the flange and the block, even with the paper gasket. That white stuff was a factory sealant...very common.

In an application like this. I try spread the bead out with an acid brush on both the flange and block with the paper gasket in between. Just good practice should suit well.