Oil pump gasket, what are you using?

[DSM Jeff]

I'm about to start putting the rest of my short block together. I picked up all new Mitsu gaskets. My engine builder normally uses a copper gasket spray on both sides of the oil pump gasket. I've also heard of some people putting a thin coat of rtv on each side of the gasket.

It seems factory gaskets go on dry and "never" seem to leak.

So the question, are you using anything other then a stock gasket when putting your oil pump and oil filter housing on? (dry, spray or rtv?)

 

[project_tsi]

I always run oem gaskets, they are made a lot better than the paper type felpro stuff.

I did spray a thin coat of copper spray on them too, and I have zero leaks.

 

[DSM Jeff]

I did spray a thin coat of copper spray on them too, and I have zero leaks.

I run mitsu gaskets for everything except the ex. mani to head.

Do you spray a thin coat on each side and allow to "tack" up before installing? Do you do the same on the oil filter housing?

Thanks for the response.

 

[project_tsi]

Yes on the OEM gaskets, I just spray a thin coat to help it tack up and improve adhesion.

On head gaskets, well thats another story, I do 8-10 thin coats.

I do not spray the filter housing or any other part itself, just the gasket.

 

[DSM Jeff]

Yes on the OEM gaskets, I just spray a thin coat to help it tack up and improve adhesion.

On head gaskets, well thats another story, I do 8-10 thin coats.

I do not spray the filter housing or any other part itself, just the gasket.

Thanks. I think thats the route I'm going to go with on this build. I also have the shop manual and am going to follow each torque spec for each bolt. I don't want this to have any leaks so I was looking for some insight. I've only had one issue with an oil leak but that car was a nightmare.

 

[hereitcomes]

Hi-tac the surface of the block, and the surface of the oil pump, so that both sides of the gasket will get sticky. I never have any leaks. good luck man.

 

[99gst_racer]

Just like Dan, I also user coper spray on OEM gaskets for things like the water pump gasket, oil pump gasket, and fuel filter housing gasket. I've never had a leak or failure.

 

[Street Surgeon]

I usually put a light coat of copper spray on all my gaskets but NOT the oil filter housing gasket, if you look at it the copper spray has nice tiny little particles all over it and oil will freely run over quite a bit of the gasket when installed. I don't want that stuff circulating around in my oil so I leave that particular gasket dry. The particles may or may not be large enough to cause trouble but I'm not gonna be the one to find out. As far as the gasket I use a OEM mitsu one though.

One other thing you might want to consider is that when installing the oil filter housing I always use high temp red loctite and torque the bolts down an extra ft/lb or so. I've heard of these housings (especially the '90 housings) coming loose sometimes from the block so I take a lil' extra precaution there. Just thought I'd pass that along.

 

[DSM Jeff]

Thanks for all the responses. I just picked up some new copper spray, brought my good torque wrench home from work and cleaned up the garage. I have a few more parts to clean up but assembly will be starting tonight.
I was also planning to put a little loctite on some of the bolts. I've taken some engines apart and some bolts seemed to come out "too" easy like they worked themselves free.