Sealing Engine Case Hardware?, To goop or not to goop? Options

[bkrantz]

In theory, sealant on all the mating surfaces for the engine case halves should contain oil and prevent leaks, and (with a couple of exceptions) the design of nuts and bolts, and where they attach, was not intended to form a seal.

But many mechanics swear by applying lots of sealant to every piece of case hardware. Is this overkill? Anyone had good luck lately with just sealant on the case halves?

[Superhawk996]

But many mechanics swear by applying lots of sealant to every piece of case hardware. Is this overkill? Anyone had good luck lately with just sealant on the case halves?

Adding sealant under washers is not good fastened joint design practice. Having goop under your fasteners will result in skewed fastener torque and resulting clamp loads.

What you ideally want is a hard metal to metal joint. Adding sealing between case halves is a necessary evil and was accomodated by the OEM torque recommendations.

What isn't accounted for is adding massive amounts of RTV goop on below washers. In effect it creates a softer fastener joint. The RTV forms a sort of hydrostatic "bearing" that tends to float the washer just a minute amount. This RTV film softens the joint and prevents X amount of toruqe from achieving Y amount of clamp load.

But some will argue that the washer is compressed metal to metal and squeeezes out the excess RTV. My question is, if that is the case, what was the good of putting it there in the 1st place? If the case is sealed properly, you will not have leaks at the fastener pass-through holes.

If some RTV is indeed left under the washer, it will slowly creep over time, resulting in a loss of clamp load. Not what you wanted in the 1st place to prevent leaks.

I've always had good luck with Yamabond or Hondabond (probably same product - different tubes) on T4 and motorcycle split cases without goop under fasteners. I'll have to research Mark & Clay's other options - always looking for something better that works or cleans up better and has a proven track record of major OEM endorsement.

[Mark Henry]

But many mechanics swear by applying lots of sealant to every piece of case hardware. Is this overkill? Anyone had good luck lately with just sealant on the case halves?

Adding sealant under washers is not good fastened joint design practice. Having goop under your fasteners will result in skewed fastener torque and resulting clamp loads.

What you ideally want is a hard metal to metal joint. Adding sealing between case halves is a necessary evil and was accomodated by the OEM torque recommendations.

What isn't accounted for is adding massive amounts of RTV goop on below washers. In effect it creates a softer fastener joint. The RTV forms a sort of hydrostatic "bearing" that tends to float the washer just a minute amount. This RTV film softens the joint and prevents X amount of toruqe from achieving Y amount of clamp load.

But some will argue that the washer is compressed metal to metal and squeeezes out the excess RTV. My question is, if that is the case, what was the good of putting it there in the 1st place? If the case is sealed properly, you will not have leaks at the fastener pass-through holes.

If some RTV is indeed left under the washer, it will slowly creep over time, resulting in a loss of clamp load. Not what you wanted in the 1st place to prevent leaks.

I've always had good luck with Yamabond or Hondabond (probably same product - different tubes) on T4 and motorcycle split cases without goop under fasteners. I'll have to research Mark & Clay's other options - always looking for something better that works or cleans up better and has a proven track record of major OEM endorsement.

No sealeant under the washers sounds great in theory, but in practice good luck with that.
Putting sealant under certian strategic fasteners, like the four lower head studs, is a necessary evil.

I always subscribe to "a little dab will do ya" philosophy. I never "goop" sealants on, to me that's the mark of a disorganised builder.