It is worth stating again...

[racerrad8]

Yes, it is time for today's PSA (Public Service Announcement)

I know I have said it many, many times here, heck I have even posted a few photos of what you should not do.

Like these...



Well it is time for that post again. These photos come from one of our own, very esteemed members of the forum. I know the condition of everything within the engine as I built it, but upon it's return there was unauthorized and un-required use of a gasket sealant on the FJ engine.

A pretty good sign that sealant is oozing out is when it is smeared down on the outside of the engine


I found RTV on the ends of the bolts as I removed them


As you can see from the next few photos the RTV was hanging off both inside & outside of the engine






Here is what I scraped off the engine side only


If you look closely you can see the RTV being sucked through the pick-up screen



But here is the real story...



That is the amount of RTV that broke free from the application of RTV gasket sealant to a gasket that does not require any type of sealant.

There is only one place there is a gasket sealant recommended by Yamaha and that is on the half rounds of the valve cover gasket. I personally do not recommend using any type of sealant there either.

Guys, it is in your best interest not to use RTV sealants on your FJ engine, plus it is not required.

Randy - RPM

[roverfj1200]

Thanks Randy. I hate the stuff myself..

[aviationfred]

I used the Cometic gasket kit from RPM on my recent engine build. I did not used a drop of sealant/gasket maker. Close too 300 miles on the engine and not a drop of oil has escaped.

Fred

[Capn Ron]

I found RTV on the ends of the bolts as I removed them


Randy - RPM

In my early days of building my rock crawler, dude was gooping RTV on bolt threads.  "It's the poor man's loctite!!!"  I wanted to smack 'im.  

[4everFJ]

I used the Cometic gasket kit from RPM on my recent engine build. I did not used a drop of sealant/gasket maker. Close too 300 miles on the engine and not a drop of oil has escaped.

Fred

Not even when assembling the crankcase halves...

[TexasDave]

When I installed Randy's shift kit and a coil spring kit I used RPM's gasket. I did brush on a very light coat of permatex to one side of the gasket. After a few minutes when it was nice and sticky it was applied to the engine case. This prevented any movement of the gasket when I installed the clutch cover.   Dave

[ribbert]

When I installed Randy's shift kit and a coil spring kit I used RPM's gasket. I did brush on a very light coat of permatex to one side of the gasket. After a few minutes when it was nice and sticky it was applied to the engine case. This prevented any movement of the gasket when I installed the clutch cover.   Dave

Geez Dave, anything but Permatex. You'll need RTV after you chisel that shit off should you need to pull it off again.

That gasket will stay in place simply by spreading your fingers under the bottom of the cover and gasket while you offer it up and until you get the first couple of bolts in.

Standard practice for holding gaskets in place that don't need sealant is a smear of grease.

Anyway, aren't there dowels on that cover?

Noel

[TexasDave]

Yes Noel there are a couple but none on the top left where the gasket is skinny. Sticking the gasket made alignment of the bolt holes much easier.  Putting it on only one side will make getting the clutch cover off again with out tearing the gasket much easier if I have to do it again. Actually the gasket is metal with rubberized compound on both sides.  The amount applied was just enough to stick the gasket to the case.  Dave

[racerrad8]

Not even when assembling the crankcase halves...

Yes, there is sealant required on the case halves, but I wasn't referring to a complete engine rebuild.

I was referring to those who work on their engine by adjusting the valves, servicing the clutch, taking off the oil pan for some reason or removing the cam chain tensioner. That is where I see the majority of improper use of sealants.

Those areas have gaskets, which with today's technology do not require any sealants.

Splitting the case halves does require the use of a sealant, but a very, very light coat as the machine surface is very precise. I believe it is there more to prevent oil weepage than actually seal the oil in.

I can assure you after all of the FJ engines I have built, the amount of sealant I use today is probably 1/4 the amount I used on the first engine I build more than 20 years ago. I learned from the first engine that there was not much sealant required.

Randy - RPM

[ribbert]

Yes Noel there are a couple but none on the top left where the gasket is skinny. Sticking the gasket made alignment of the bolt holes much easier.  Putting it on only one side will make getting the clutch cover off again with out tearing the gasket much easier if I have to do it again. Actually the gasket is metal with rubberized compound on both sides.  The amount applied was just enough to stick the gasket to the case.  Dave

Fair enough Dave, sounds like you're on top of it.

Noel

[bigbore2]

A few years ago, Honda made a sealant that came off easily when it was time to remove.  It was light grey in color and might have been called Honda HP.  They have since changed the formula and it's now works like Permatex, scrape and gouge to get off. The older formula came off with your fingers or plastic scraper.

[aviationfred]

If the oil screen gets to much sh** built up, the oil pump suction can pull the screen apart. 

The first photo is NOT mine....
The Second photo is a piece that I did find in the screen during my rebuild.

[Urban_Legend]

So where did that come from???

Mark

[ribbert]

A few years ago, Honda made a sealant that came off easily when it was time to remove.  It was light grey in color and might have been called Honda HP.  They have since changed the formula and it's now works like Permatex, scrape and gouge to get off. The older formula came off with your fingers or plastic scraper.

Bigbore, the easy to remove stuff you mention is more readily available that the hard setting stuff these days.
Silicone had revolutionised engine sealants.

This product, RTV gasket maker or other brand equivalent, will take care of all your automotive engine sealing needs and peels off with your fingers when disassembled.

As Randy's earlier photos show, use sparingly.

Noel

[racerrad8]

This product, RTV gasket maker or other brand equivalent, will take care of all your automotive engine sealing needs and peels off with your fingers when disassembled.

As Randy's earlier photos show, use sparingly.

Noel

This topic is trailing off the subject, as I said in the original post...

...it is in your best interest not to use RTV sealants on your FJ engine, plus it is not required.

Randy - RPM