Quote Originally Posted by Bio248 View Post
oil pan gasket gets sealed with some RTV and the front cover does too. i put a single bead all the way around with my oil pan gasket. the front cover just gets it in the two cornors where the gaskets meet.

mine doesnt leak at all.
Yup.

I have installed them dry before in the beginning on a fresh engine build before I heard that GM had this service bulletin and this is how the service techs were fixing GM's bo-bo at the dealerships with them originally installing them dry at the plant. As long as everything is VERY clean and degreased, you can get a good seal. But later down the road...it will start seeping, then its all over.

When I do them now, both sides of the gasket get RTV gasket maker. I use the "Ultra Gray" RTV my Permetex on all my engines. Only other color I use is the copper, high temp. stuff for exhaust doughnut gaskets on headers. Front and the rear cover gets a little dab in the lower corner where it meets the oil pan and the main bearing cap. There are a lot of other places that need attention of some RTV on a build, but we will save that for another post.

Hope that helps.

~F~