Reusing the oil pan gasket

[Evinrude Boater]

While assembling my new engine a tool fell into the distributor hole and I had to take the pan off to retrieve it. Can I reuse the pan gasket. It's a Victor Reinz gasket made of a plastic material with metal grommets at the bolt hole locations. Thinking about gear case fill and vent screw gaskets, I'm wondering if the grommets crush during installation preventing re-use.

 

[dubs283]

Re: Reusing the oil pan gasket

i would think its okay

just be sure to clean everything and a thin bead of RTV would not hurt - definitely at the seal/timing cover corners

 

[Evinrude Boater]

Re: Reusing the oil pan gasket

I used RTV at the corners and Permatex Aviation Form-a-gasket No 3H on both sides of the gasket. Manual calls for Perfect Seal. The Permatex Aviation is pretty much the same thing, isn't it? I've cleaned it all off with solvent and scraped as much of the RTV off the gasket as I could with my thumb nail.

 

[dubs283]

Re: Reusing the oil pan gasket

perfect seal isn't going to aid sealing on a rubber or plastic gasket, its designed for fiberous gaskets

you will be fine with what you did

 

[Don S]

Re: Reusing the oil pan gasket

Gaskets are not reusable. or at least they shouldn't be considered as reusable. But what the heck, give it a try, if it leaks, all you have to do is pull the engine again to replace it.

Read the blue part of my signature.

VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV

 

[dubs283]

Re: Reusing the oil pan gasket

all you have to do is pull the engine again to replace it

no way, man

gotta run er on the floor before install!!

 

[Evinrude Boater]

Re: Reusing the oil pan gasket

I re-read the manual and it seems to refer to using Perfect Seal with older 4-piece gasket sets. What's required with the new one-piece moulded gaskets? Just RTV the corners?

 

[mrchev]

Re: Reusing the oil pan gasket

if it is a stiff plastic gasket with steel grommets then it can be reused.just put rtv in the corners near the seals in front and back.

 

[Don S]

Re: Reusing the oil pan gasket

no way, man

gotta run er on the floor before install!!

running on the floor doesn't get the engine oil as hot, or bounce around and make turns like a boat does.

I really don't care if he changes it or not. I don't have to fix it.

 

[Evinrude Boater]

Re: Reusing the oil pan gasket

While I've still got it open I might as well verify that there's no gasket on the oil pump mount. Is that right? (87 4.3 liter)

 

[lime4x4]

Re: Reusing the oil pan gasket

If it's a 4.3 liter engine then that gasket should be one peice. molded rubber with metal inserts. In the automotive world that gasket is re-usable as long as it's not damaged. Gm shop manuals tell u it can be reused. Also on a side note. Alot of the newer cars/trucks are being built with re-usable gaskets.

 

[Don S]

Re: Reusing the oil pan gasket

In the automotive world that gasket is re-usable as long as ................

Gm shop manuals tell u it can be reused.

Alot of the newer cars/trucks are being built with re-usable gaskets

Maybe you missed something, this is a boating forum. Not a car and truck forum.
Small minor leaks that wouldn't even be noticed on a car or truck, will be evident in a boats bilge, and when mixed with a little water can make a nice mess.
Besides, who in their right mind would want to reuse a 25 year old gasket, doesn't matter what it was in. Seems like a common sense thing to me.

 

[stonyloam]

Re: Reusing the oil pan gasket

Besides, who in their right mind would want to reuse a 25 year old gasket

I think he is asking if he can re-use his new gasket that he just installed.

 

[Don S]

Re: Reusing the oil pan gasket

I think he is asking if he can re-use his new gasket that he just installed.

uhhhhhhhhhh, mmmmmmmm, Well, :redface: oops :redface: :redface: :facepalm:

In that case, sure he can reuse it, it hasn't even went through a heat cycle at that point.

 

[lime4x4]

Re: Reusing the oil pan gasket

i make my living turning wrenches. Very few gaskets are esp made for the marine engine. Felpro makes most of the gaskets for gm engines. There not going to make a special marine oil pan gasket. I assumed the original poster used a new gasket.. On a side note i've resued oil pan gaskets on $70,000 corvettes that had a few thousand miles on them. and the cust never came back complaining of a oil leak. And those people are picky

 

[ENSIGN]

Re: Reusing the oil pan gasket

mercruser gaskets are made by felpro!

 

[Evinrude Boater]

Re: Reusing the oil pan gasket

My gasket is new, never run the engine. It's back in the boat. Wish me luck.