4th Generation Maxima (1995-1999) Visit the 4th Generation forum to ask specific questions or find out more about the 4th Generation Maxima.

Oil pan gasket

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Aug 21, 2013 | 05:53 AM
  #1  
Drag0n97's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 446
From: Connecticut
Oil pan gasket

Removing my oil pan and doin the gasket should i just use rtv or buy the felpro one??
Old Aug 21, 2013 | 08:13 AM
  #2  
DennisMik's Avatar
Senior Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 10,644
From: Plano, TX
Use a gasket. If you are near a dealer, check their price. Many times they have the lowest gasket prices.
Old Aug 21, 2013 | 09:24 AM
  #3  
bullet187's Avatar
Member
 
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 123
If you use a gasket, do you need to use RTV still?
Old Aug 21, 2013 | 09:43 AM
  #4  
arcticracer's Avatar
Junior Member
 
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 62
For oil pans, front timing covers etc I have had great success with rtv Ultra grey. Just don't use more than necessary.
Old Aug 21, 2013 | 09:58 AM
  #5  
tosheto's Avatar
Senior Member
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,509
From: on a tree
I have always used just the gasket maker, no actual gasket.
Old Aug 21, 2013 | 10:15 AM
  #6  
asand1's Avatar
Senior Member
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 3,942
From: Reedsport, OR
Afaik they come oem with just RTV, no gasket.
Old Aug 21, 2013 | 10:37 AM
  #7  
Fauken's Avatar
Senior Member
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 3,924
From: IE
Originally Posted by asand1
Afaik they come oem with just RTV, no gasket.
Lower oil pan has a gasket but its up to you if you want to use one or not. Apply a little RTV if using the gasket. Mine is on without a gasket and using gray rtv
Old Aug 21, 2013 | 11:17 AM
  #8  
Max_Gator's Avatar
Supporting Maxima.org Member
 
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,039
Originally Posted by Fauken

Lower oil pan has a gasket but its up to you if you want to use one or not. Apply a little RTV if using the gasket. Mine is on without a gasket and using gray rtv
Nissan does not use gaskets there. And don't use gaskets. Use ultra grey only.

The problem with gaskets on pieces like that is they don't have smooth surfaces and gasket maker matches the imperfections better than a gasket.
Old Aug 21, 2013 | 11:46 AM
  #9  
The Wizard's Avatar
Administrator
iTrader: (43)
 
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 16,718
From: Southern California
Read the FSM...
Old Aug 21, 2013 | 11:54 AM
  #10  
bprice92's Avatar
Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 113
From: Tucson, AZ
I tried the fel pro oil pan gasket and it leaked, even after tightening the bolts in the leaking areas, no go.

But I have seen posts here of people who've had success using it, somehow.

Thought of using both rtv and the premade but it's pointless, use just rtv ultra grey or black.
Old Aug 21, 2013 | 01:14 PM
  #11  
Max_Gator's Avatar
Supporting Maxima.org Member
 
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,039
Originally Posted by The Wizard
Read the FSM...
shhhh. . . .
Old Aug 21, 2013 | 01:21 PM
  #12  
theWalkinator's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 393
From: Philly Suburb
I just dropped oil ban couple of weeks ago when I was doing water pump replacement, OEM oil pan does not come with gasket, just RTV so I used utral-grey RTV, so far so good, no leaking.
Old Aug 21, 2013 | 04:57 PM
  #13  
JvG's Avatar
JvG
Senior Member
 
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 2,974
From: Portland, Oregon
I worked on a Toyota Cressida oil pan a while back. Toyota recommended using their sealant. No gasket. The sealant worked great. I do not know if Ultra-gray is better or worse, or cheaper.
Old Aug 21, 2013 | 06:36 PM
  #14  
schmellyfart's Avatar
Senior Member
iTrader: (46)
 
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,816
From: AZ
I used ultra black on my oil pans.

Oops
Old Aug 21, 2013 | 07:26 PM
  #15  
BlackThornDemon's Avatar
Member
 
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 277
From: 19526
God I hate rtv. If you've ever had to scrape rtv off of something you know what I mean. I once came across a vehicle that had the air intake rtv'd because the person was too lazy to order a gasket.

Anyways, you can put a gasket on it and hope that it doesn't leak. Or you can hate yourself if you ever have to scrape the rtv off.

My 0.02c: gasket with a drop of rtv between bolts and on corners.
Old Aug 21, 2013 | 07:41 PM
  #16  
Drag0n97's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 446
From: Connecticut
The gasket is just a darn piece of rubber but I'm gonna go black rtv I hate scraping it off but I need a new oil pan also after lookin and seeing that it's rottin
Old Aug 21, 2013 | 07:46 PM
  #17  
BlackThornDemon's Avatar
Member
 
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 277
From: 19526
Not to be Mr. picky, but the oil pan gasket is actually a paper type. This way it can absorb oil and expand.
Old Aug 21, 2013 | 07:48 PM
  #18  
Drag0n97's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 446
From: Connecticut
This is true u can get either or but I rather just stick to rtv that's what's on there now just grey
Old Aug 21, 2013 | 08:15 PM
  #19  
Trini Boom's Avatar
Senior Member
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 2,395
From: Brooklyn, NY
The only gasket is the tranny oil pan gasket. The engine uses RTV for lower and upper oil pans, timing cover (front and rear).
Old Aug 21, 2013 | 09:28 PM
  #20  
Nealoc187's Avatar
SLOW
iTrader: (23)
 
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 14,617
From: West burbs, Chicago
use ultra gray.
Old Aug 21, 2013 | 11:34 PM
  #21  
isandres8884's Avatar
Junior Member
 
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 95
Well i recently drop the oil panel and bought the gasket and use some black rtv 3months now and no leaks at all.
Old Aug 22, 2013 | 04:20 AM
  #22  
Drag0n97's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 446
From: Connecticut
Is there's difference btw the ultra grey and black rtv?
Old Aug 22, 2013 | 10:43 AM
  #23  
BlackThornDemon's Avatar
Member
 
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 277
From: 19526
RTV is color coded. Each color has special properties. Some colors are good with oil, some with gas, some are high temp, etc.

http://www.permatex.com/products-2/p.../gasket-makers

Last edited by BlackThornDemon; Aug 22, 2013 at 10:46 AM.
Old Aug 22, 2013 | 11:28 AM
  #24  
jfactor's Avatar
Member
 
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 153
From: Fort Worth, TX
I had to replace the gasket after the frickin mechanic dented my pan jacking up the motor to replace the water pump. I just used a felpro gasket and haven't dripped a drop of oil since.
Old Aug 22, 2013 | 12:38 PM
  #25  
Drag0n97's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 446
From: Connecticut
I got the black one it said gasket maker maximum oil resistance
Old Aug 23, 2013 | 08:29 AM
  #26  
RA030726's Avatar
I'm nutty for Nissans
iTrader: (46)
 
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 9,311
Originally Posted by jfactor
I had to replace the gasket after the frickin mechanic dented my pan jacking up the motor to replace the water pump. I just used a felpro gasket and haven't dripped a drop of oil since.
LOL that guy was an idiot. He should not be a mechanic if he made that mistake. Unless he had more than just the timing cover mount off, the engine is not going to move.
Old Aug 23, 2013 | 09:57 AM
  #27  
nsnrider's Avatar
Supporting Maxima.org Member
iTrader: (59)
 
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,785
From: Chicopee, MA
I've had much better results with ultra black for lower oil pans due to better oil resistance.

I use ultra gray for all other applications.
Old Aug 24, 2013 | 07:46 PM
  #28  
BobMax's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 517
From: eastern, MA
Anyone tried an anaerobic sealant like Loctite 518?

It only cures in the absence of air, so any extra that you get inside the pan edge when you torque it up just dissolves in your oil. In contrast, the extra RTV breaks off and ends up in your oil pump screen in hardened form. Another make I work on insists on it for just that reason.

As an added benefit, it's easy to scrape off at replacement time as it cures hard, unlike RTV which is always a RPITA.
Old Aug 25, 2013 | 12:15 PM
  #29  
Drag0n97's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 446
From: Connecticut
Where do u get the loctite? That sounds like a better idea
Old Aug 25, 2013 | 12:54 PM
  #30  
Fakie J Farkerton's Avatar
Senior Member
iTrader: (51)
 
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 5,189
From: KCK
Black RTV for oil pan FTW.

Just use a continuous bead and finger tighten the bolts, let it sit for a few hours, then snug it up the rest of the way.

No extra squeezing out that way and you will never need to redo it.
Old Aug 25, 2013 | 03:41 PM
  #31  
BobMax's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 517
From: eastern, MA
Originally Posted by Drag0n97
Where do u get the loctite? That sounds like a better idea
I got it here: www.eeuroparts.com, but you can get it at a lot of autoparts stores, Amazon, etc. Permatex has a version too - look for anaerobic sealant.
Old Aug 25, 2013 | 04:55 PM
  #32  
Drag0n97's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 446
From: Connecticut
I've always used rtv for gaskets unless otherwise but always good to try something new def will look into that loctite stuff
Old Aug 25, 2013 | 06:57 PM
  #33  
Fauken's Avatar
Senior Member
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 3,924
From: IE
Originally Posted by Trini Boom
The only gasket is the tranny oil pan gasket. The engine uses RTV for lower and upper oil pans, timing cover (front and rear).
False, while you are right about the lower oil pan, the upper does require two crescent seals. One for the crank pulley, and the other underneath the rear main seal.
Old Aug 26, 2013 | 07:57 PM
  #34  
Trini Boom's Avatar
Senior Member
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 2,395
From: Brooklyn, NY
Originally Posted by Fauken
False, while you are right about the lower oil pan, the upper does require two crescent seals. One for the crank pulley, and the other underneath the rear main seal.
Yes, I am aware that it uses those two seals but my statement is not false. It is not a gasket that covers the upper oil pan correct? 90% is RTV while the 10% is those half moon seals.
Old Jan 5, 2014 | 04:07 PM
  #35  
CMax03's Avatar
Senior Member
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 9,587
From: Houston, Tx
I'm currently doing my 1998 VQ30DE upper and lower oil pans and I'm going to use RTV only the way it came....I will let it cure for more than 10 hrs b4 I put oil in it though, Use at least an 1/8" bead of sealant!
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
mclasser
5th Generation Maxima (2000-2003)
22
Nov 12, 2020 01:58 PM
My Coffee
New Member Introductions
15
Jun 6, 2017 02:01 PM
05RLS2
7th Generation Maxima (2009-2015)
4
Apr 14, 2016 11:49 AM
knight_yyz
5th Generation Classifieds (2000-2003)
12
Nov 1, 2015 01:34 PM




All times are GMT -7. The time now is 11:59 AM.