Advice on gasket sealer/RTV - Yes or No

Hi guys, I'm here to ask and remedy my ongoing doubt on my over use of RTV sealant and/or Honda Bond when im putting an engine back together.

Basic question is, - Is there any need for RTV or gasket maker on side cover gaskets or oil pan gaskets or valve cover gaskets on our old Honda's ?

Generally, while I know RTV is a bit of a gamble and can get into oil passages, I have in the past put a thin smear of it on these gaskets to ensure I get no leaks....I HATE leaks.

I use threebond, or honda bond or permatex gray on the crank case halves --- thats ok im good with that (I NEVER use Silicone or RTV here)

Ive seen it said many times that case cover and oil pan gaskets MUST go on dry, and ive seen guys use a coat of grease as well.

What say those that know more than me ? I do have this nagging feeling that im using RTV when I should be using gaskets dry, but my hate of leaks drives my miss-use of RTV I think.

 

Hey Cat… I have the same hate of oil leaks … I go by what the factory shop manual states… BUT… sometimes on my older bikes I put a very thin layer of Honda bond on the gasket. Makes me feel better. Have not had an issue at all.


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My experience is to only use it where the FSM says it should be. For engine covers or anything else with a mating surface that I can hold flat in my hand, I will tape a sheet of 400 grit sandpaper to a piece of glass and just make sure that the surface is flat and clean. For engine surfaces I use scotchbrite wheels in a pneumatic rotary tool to polish it up. Putting glue on a gasket will almost guarantee that you have no chance of using it a second time and you also get all the fun of having to clean everything up.

 

I run my gaskets dry and I spend a lot of time surfacing the gasket faces. I would not use RTV on those. I theorize that the silicone may keep the gasket from absorbing oil and thus not creating a saturated sealing gasket. My uneducated 2c.

 

Cheers guys.

I'm pretty diligent on prepping the mating surfaces, im quite happy with that.

its the Dry gasket vs Sealer + gasket thats my ongoing battle and possible over use. I have tended to use sealant even when the manual says dry....just because if dry is good then adding sealant must be better (I know thats not the case)

 

I never use RTV. If there is something that needs sealed (like case halves), it's Hondabond (or equivalent).

I install gaskets dry, unless there has been some unskilled gasket scraping that I am concerned about. Sometimes I will apply some around any grommets, like Gen or Pulse Coil wires.

If there is a gasket that is likely not coming off for any kind of maintenance and I don't want to ever worry about it leaking, I will LIGHT smear both sides with Hondabond and sleep really good at night. I think that probably answers your question the most directly.

I assembled my Hawk GT a couple winters ago and installed new clutch springs (but not clutch). Installed the gasket dry. Well, when my clutch started slipping I had to take the cover off. It stuck in a couple places, leaving some gasket on both sides in a few areas and an actual break in one. Shit, I really don't feel like scraping and replacing again. I cleaned everything up with contact cleaner leaving any gasket material exactly as it came apart, applied a thin layer of Hondabond on the cover side and assembled, leaving the oil out for a couple days. Zero leaks all Summer, ridden hard and hot.

Been using this approach for decades and have never had to go back in to "fix" a leaking gasket. Like everything, attention to details and solid prep work is the key. Use Hondabond if you want, in a responsible manner, I don't see any issues. You don't need much and it will squish out and not affect any clearance items (like a starter idler gear).

My $.02

Cheers.

 

Cheers guys

thank you

 

Stay warm up there!!

 

Jeez, don't get me started Rogue !

I have a brand new BMW S1000XR sitting here that I haven't even ridden yet since we got snow the day after it came home

 

Just put WSBK on in the back ground, get geared up and sit on the bike with a fan pointed at you. She is mean looking..whew!!

 

Ha ha ha


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Fingers crossed for Thursday this week, supposed to be upto 9 degrees C, if so ill get the fall gear on and get her out for a wee ride

 

Go Cat


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anyone remember INDIAN HEAD, the chocolate syrup stuff with the piney resin smell ppl used years before sillycohen or honda/yama-bond, what i still use ?

 

Wow Squirrel… haven’t seen that bottle in decades


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I'd do what Captain 80's says. But, depends on gasket material. Some Yamaha gaskets are seemingly impregnated with graphite-like material, and you can usually remove engine covers without damaging the gasket if you're careful. Old Honda Magna, had paper gaskets and was instructed to smear with grease both sides and leave to "swell" overnight (which they really didn't). But, had to pull clutch cover off and gasket stayed OK... so... only thing I'd add is if paper, grease both sides, it works.