Within weeks of installing my SC on my '96, I formed an oil leak at the bottom of my drainback plate. I used Permatex Form-A-Gasket non-hardening 2BR Item # 80016.

Thinking we just didn'd use enough of it, The Wizard and I used the same stuff when we installed his SC on his '99 last week (but caked it on). "Low and behold" he got an oil leak this week.

Are we using the right stuff? The material that needs to be scraped off the stock plate is rock hard so I'm thinking this 'non-hardening' junk just isn't cutting it.

Questions: what sealant should we be using (exact part number appreciated)? Thanks guys.

 

Permatex, permagrey!

comes in a grey tube, thats what you need to use and that is what your VQ is sealed with.

 

This is what I used: And it worked really well



PERMATEX® ULTRA BLUE® No Leak RTV Silicone Gasket Maker

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PERMATEX® Ultra silicones were developed to meet today’s technology changes. Sensor-safe, low odor, non-corrosive. Outstanding oil resistance and joint movement values. Eight times more flexible than cork/composite gaskets; three times more oil resistant than conventional silicones. Temper-ature range -75°F to 500°F intermittent; resists auto and shop fluids and vibration.

Suggested Applications:
Valve covers, oil pans, timing covers, transmission pans, differential covers

 

I would be more suspicious of the drain back tube more so than the plate, it could be seeping past the line and "look" like it is coming from the plate.

Anyways if it is the plate I just used regular permatex and not very much- it was a grey one.

 

O.k., just got back from Autozone. This is what we bought:

Permatex Utra Black, Blue and Copper (#s 598, 77, and 101 respectively)
Permatex High-temp Red RTV Silicone Gasket Maker (# 26)
Permatex Form-A-Gasket Sealant (#1) - the same as #2 but hardening vs non-hardening

Of this selection, which one is best? (or is there something even better?)

Thanks!

 

ultra black.

you need to take your time and scrape all the old sealer off the motor, its a pian but necessary, then take some solvent like mineral spirits etc and wipe down both sealing surfaces prior to pittung the new sealer on.

 

Thanks guys. While I am sure black, blue, etc. would work fine, we went with Ultra-Grey. The reason being Permitex says it is for imports on their website (and it seems to perform a few more duties).
http://www.permatex.com/images/Splas...ting_chart.gif
I am just really pissed that Stillen doesn't say this in their instructions! Thanks for the oil leak Stillen
And now I feel bad not having it in my write-up.

 

Hold a straight edge to the mating surfaces of the backing plate to make sure the plate isn't warped.

On one SC kit I installed, the drain back plate was so warped that there was about .040-.060" of daylight between the plate and the straight edge along one of the mating surfaces. Gasket sealer might have filled the gap, but I ordered a new drain back plate just to make sure.

 

Yup, we checked that too before we even installed it for the first time. Seemed perfect to us. At least now we feel we have the right stuff. We'll let you guys know how it goes.

STILLEN for being lazy and not being specific on which Permatex product to use.

 

no, they give a model number. its just the wrong one.