Understand I have to drop the upper oil pan and thus the lower. Should I follow the repair manual and just use RTV on the lower or an aftermarket gasket from FEL-PRO (OS30688) or the like? Generally not a fan of just RTV as a gasket maker.....



FEL-PRO
Fel-ProŽ gaskets offer 100% vehicle sealing with application-specific materials to give you sealing solutions with the performance and durability professionals trust.

Features & Benefits:

• DESIGNED FOR IMPERFECT SEALING SURFACES -- Engineered and manufactured specifically for the repair environment to help seal imperfect sealing surfaces
• SUPERIOR SEAL -- Manufactured with rubber compounds to ensure a consistent and long-life seal across the entire oil pan
• PREVENTS OVERTIGHTENING -- Torque limiters help eliminate overtightening and gasket splitting and extruding (where applicable)
• OE-STYLE REPLACEMENT GASKET -- Engineered for OE-style molded rubber gasket replacement
• EVERY PART FOR THE REPAIR -- Fel-ProŽ gasket sets include every part needed for the repair unless otherwise noted
• ENGINEERING EXPERTISE -- Parts are designed, tested, validated and approved by Fel-ProŽ engineers through rigorous research and development

 

rtv. ultra grey on the upper, ultra black or grey on the lower. do not use just normal "rtv"

 

always use a premade gasket when they are available.

as for the upper pan be sure to prep the surfaces on the pan and block real good for the RTV to bond to. I use rags and rubbing alcohol to get the surfaces super clean. I usually use ultra gray and I"ll give it 24 hours to cure before putting oil in the pan and driving the vehicle. I usually take the pan to a machine shop for cleaning and media blasting.

another thing I also did when I reinstalled my oil pan was use 2 headless bolts as an alignment tool

 

as a professional i couldnt agree less. never use a premade gasket in place of rtv. theyll almost always leak.

or in the case of some engines (not nissan) cause a no start due to increasing the airgap for the crank sensor.

 

I used a premade gasket on my lower pan and it never leaked,. installed February 2013 - engine pulled for swap March 2023.

the upper pan has to be RTV. but for the lower pan a premade gasket is fine.