Oil pan gasket leak

[ammocj]

Well,
got my motor rebuilt.
Took a bunch of time painting and assembling everything.
I'm still waiting on a Holley 2 barrel base plate so I can finally tune it right.
I ran my initial break-in.
Now I have a leak.
I thought it was the rear main seal so I pulled the transmission.
Well. looks like it's the oil pan gasket so the motor is coming out again.
I can't sem to find a rubber oil pan gasket for the 2.8.

Question is: can I get away with making a gasket out of RTV?
Has anyone done this with good results?

I dunno, I just want this to be the last time I have to pull the motor for a couple of years.
Al

 

[offroadingranger]

I have never tried RTV sealant only in place of an oil pan gasket. I did recently work on a Volvo and learned that no oil pan gasket is used they use a special sealant referred to as "chemical gasket". I found a Permatex product available @ Advance Auto Parts linked to below that sounds similar to the "chemical gasket" product that I mentioned.

Permatex Gasket Maker "The Right Stuff"

 

[ammocj]

Thanks,
I'll have to see if I can get that locally.
It's probably just RTV at a higher price but it might be more.

I plan to use the rubber seals that come with oil pan gasket on the ends of the pan and probably this stuff to replace the cork gasket.
I'll post if it works or not when I finish (probably a month from now)

I doubt the 2.8 will ever be popular enough for someone to develope rubber oil pan gaskets.
Al

 

[enginepaul]

Cork gaskets work just fine; I coat mine with RTV. You don't need rubber.
I put in the bolts finger tight, then torque them ONCE. After sitting for a while, you can tighten them more but that will distort the gasket so don't do that.

I do this on all types of engines and it works just fine. I doubt if you really need the sealer, but I use it anyway.

 

[mkpecor]

you can take the pan off clean the mounting lip on it, put a really good bead of black RVT arounr the mounting lip, let sit over night so the RVT cures and then put the pan on, thats how you make a gasget out of rvt.

 

[ammocj]

I took the pan off last night and it looks like the problem was where the cork meets the rubber seal on the end. I had a hard time getting one of those seals in when I put it together last.
I've never had very good luck with cork gaskets so I'm going to try this "right stuff".
Several people I've talked to rave about it.
Directions say it takes 5 minutes to set and is ready for immediate use.
I'll probably let it set a week or so as I'm still waiting for my carb base plate.
Later, Al