RTv or not?
 

Evening all, I am about to change the cam cover gasket on my 4.0 aj6 engine. Would anyone use any silicone or similar or will a new gasket suffice. Any input gratefully accepted as I don't want oil everywhere. Many thanks in advance

Well, if you don't want to use the gasket that is made for this camcover, making sure to include the 6 spark plug gaskets as well.... then RTV would definitely make for a great seal, but would be a royal pain to remove and reseal if you ever needed to get back in there, wouldn't it?

Why not just buy the gasket?

I have the gasket. Does it want any rtv as well or is there no need?

Only at the half moons in the rear of the engine. Apply some RTV to the curved faces. Basically you'll need a minute amount.

For metal to metal surfaces I do not like RTV, I much prefer flange sealer, like Loctite 515 or 518. There is essentially no cure time, and it doesn't introduce a large filler like a bead of RTV does. with flange sealer you put a sufficient amount on, put the parts together, torque to spec and return to service.

The data sheet: http://www.loctite.sg/sea/content_data/93791_515EN.pdf

If you have the modern gasket made of gortex stuff, it does not need RTV, except as Vee said, a VERY light smear right round the the half moon seal at the back including the flat part that mates to the cam cover. The half moon seal must also be new.

Much obliged to all