Oil Pan gasket

[Nick 0]

Since I am about head down to the garage to replace the oil pan gasket, Is it OK to use gasket sealant with the paper gasket on my 10hp Briggs engine or will just setting the gasket on there be fine? I didn't see anything in my manual about this.

[10HorseMan 0]

I just put the gasket on mine with no sealer. It hasn't leaked since "Replaced about two years ago".

[PhanDad 3,532]

I used aviation gasket sealer, no leaks for two years so far.

[Kent 435]

My only caution would be to use only a VERY SMALL amount of whatever gasket sealer you may choose to use. You don't want it to "squish out" and get into the inside of the crankcase of an engine that doesn't have an oil filter to collect it...

[MikeES 454]

I don't use a gasket... I have had excellent results from Permatex Ultra Copper silicone gasket maker. Follow Kent's advice and use a very small bead of gasket maker.

[Simplicity314 0]

I use permatex on all my pan gaskets, and I change those whenever I get a motor. If you inspect the mating surfaces on aluminum blocks you can see the imperfections visably. Hard to believe the toilet paper thin gasket can seal it up. The form a gasket stops all seepage, so you dont get that grime on the tractor. Kent: Would something as soft as permatex harm anything? The gears would just chew it up and there are no channels or pumps or anything to block --they're splash-type. Don't know, just askin'. Thanks, Jim

[MrSteele 483]

A pan gasket needs no sealant, but, if you want, and most do, use your favorite gaskets sealant. I use permatex Cop-r-coat, can only be bought in a spray now, so you'll be hard pressed to get too much on anything.

[Al 6]

Hi, If a little ball of sealant got kicked up and into the rod oil hole and stuck, could be by by. Al Eden

[Chris727 1,928]

I never use the sealant. So far just gaskets and no problems here.

[ka9bxg 3]

I only use silicone on all my engines.I even use it for carbs tend to seal them up better but put a very thin coat on it.Been working well for years

[Nick 0]

Thank you all for your comments. I was going to use the gasket sealant but decided against it reading those comments. I just put the paper gasket I got from briggs on there and it worked out fine.

[HubbardRA 19]

Nick, I always use a thin coat of black permatex sealer on an oil pan gasket. I can usually remove the pan without damaging the gasket, then the sealer really becomes the gasket during the re-installation. Always worked for me. By-the-way, I have never bought an oil pan gasket for a B/S or Kohler engine, just seal it with permatex.

[KVANDY12 0]

The way to use permatex sealers is to only put a thin bead on the outside half of the surface. Anyway that what I did when building the V.W. split case. Cause more is not better in this case.

[Kent 435]

quote:

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Originally posted by KVANDY12
The way to use permatex sealers is to only put a thin bead on the outside half of the surface. Anyway that what I did when building the V.W. split case. Cause more is not better in this case.

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We also learned to use it wisely for the oil drain plates and valve covers -- with the requirement to clean the oil strainer every 3,000 miles and adjust the valves every 6,000 miles. I always wanted to try one of those "new-fangled" cams with hydraulic lifters in a VW, but ended up getting into garden tractors, and got rid of all my VW stuff....