Oil Pan Seals - a continuing saga

[RoadsterRich]

I should have the oil pan ready to go back on the car sometime this weekend if the weather cooperates for the paint. I noticed that there was some seepage around the rear oil seal that is arched. This is a fairly thick piece of cork fitted in to an arched section of the pan. The pan has some 'helpers' to hold it in place. My new cork is quite stiff, will it mold in to place when I bolt down the oil pan? Is there a preperation that should be done to it first? And that brings up another question, just how tightly does one torque down the bolts on the oil pan? The pan is stamped metal (steel?).<P>Thanks,<P>Rich

[Guest]

Coming along nicely Rich, <P>I never use those cork seals. I toss them and put a healthy bead of silicone automotive sealant to replace them. Snug up the pan finger tight and then let dry overnight. Next day torque to 15 ft/lbs. This compresses the silicone slightly and is guaranteed not to leak.<P>Make sure the gasket surfaces are perfectly clean with no oily residue. Incidently I use a spray product made by permatex called "spray tack" to help hold the gasket to the pan while I place it, this stuff is a non hardening sealer and works like a charm.<P>Another trick I've gotten used to doing especially for valve covers is apply some anti seize to the block side of the gasket instead of adhesive. It will allow you to remove the cover later without wrecking the gasket and is thick enough to prevent any leaks. <P>I started doing this with mechanical camshaft engines because I was always pulling valve covers for valve lash adjustments etc. Works for oil pans, timing chain covers too, not that you ever intend to take it off again- if you can help it.

[Guest]

If you go with the cork it can be soaked for a while in water to make it flex better.

[Guest]

i dont how 'stiff' the cork insert is but go ahead andtry it anyway. I use the cork on my 56 Packard from an nos gasket set that had shrunk and actualy had to stretch the side elements of the gasket a bit to fit.<BR>REgardless, whatever u decide to use the trick is to snug the front and rear CORNER bolts FIRST and then snug the bolts along the sides of the pan. Final tighten in the same manner. This is somewhat contrary to generaly accepted practices of bolt tightening but in this case we are dealing with SHETT METAL and NOT a stiff casting.<P>Bottom line is to tighten the CORNER bolts FIRST. IF u have trouble keeping the side strips of the gasket in place then tie them onto the OILPAN using very thin sewing thread or cheap dental floss that is very thin. I've had no problems using cork gaskets.<P>The same method of tightening bolts applies to valve covers or other sheet metal stampings. Tighten the CORNER bolts first.