Gaskets: rubber vs. cork

[Myotis1134]

Hey people,

 

Got my new sub-frame cleaned and por-15ed, and I only have to track down a cherry-picker to hold my engine in place so I can swap the frames out. I figure that while I have the oil and transmission pans exposed I will replace the gaskets, and hopefully stop the leaks. I picked up some rubber gaskets from Napa, but my roommate is telling me that rubber gaskets are not the shit. I don't want to put some inferior gaskets on the car, so I'd like some feedback.

 

Obviously rubber gaskets must work, since they are being sold regularly. That being said, I'm sure that rubber and cork both have their pros and cons. I got rubber gaskets for both the oil and transmission pans since it seems to me that rubber will give a tighter fit, but then again, I haven't done much research on the subject. Does anyone know something I don't on this matter?

[AL]

The cork gaskets do not last nearly as long as the rubber ones... Definitely go with rubber and make sure to torque the bolts correctly

[RobertISaar]

since there is such a light torque, i can't remember if thread locker should be used to keep them that way...

[Andrew]

rubber > cork.

[AL]

I havent ever used threadlocker on them and I havent ever had a problem

[RobertISaar]

i never have either, but it helps with stuff like LIM bolts, which also have a fairly weak torque that needs to remoan consistent.

[AL]

They remain consistent... If they didnt, they would have had alot of problems when they were newer with bolts coming loose

[1990lumina]

Silicone > all gaskets

[AL]

I do not believe that at all

[Myotis1134]

Um... I have been led to believe that there should be no sealants used along with the rubber gaskets, or else they will leak for sure.

[Addicted To Boost]

Rubber>cork.

 

Yes, you will also need to use high temp, oil resistant silicone on the oil pan along with the rubber gasket.

[AL]

I wouldn't use silicone AND the gasket... The gasket was made to seal it by itself without help of anything else

[GutlessSupreme]

I wouldn't use silicone AND the gasket... The gasket was made to seal it by itself without help of anything else

 

x2 on that. I think with my oil pan gasket I added a little RTV just in the corners where it wraps around the mains, other then that it's just going to make it a big nasty mess.

[Crazy K]

on rubber tranny pan gaskets... some say you should coat em with grease. threadlock = GOOD IDEA.

[GnatGoSplat]

Go with rubber.

I made the mistake of using silicone sealant on a cork tranny gasket once. The silicone acted a a lubricant and caused the ridge on the pan to split the cork right in half. Dry cork would have worked, but I don't think you can torque to spec with cork.

[1990lumina]

I didn't mean using silicone AND a gasket...just silicone alone. I've had too many cork gaskets start leaking after a few years due to the cork compressing and the bolts no longer being tight..it's retarded. Any rubber gasket I've used lately for transmissions always have the holes for the bolts too small and that's a PITA after a while too.

 

Layer of silicone and slam the shit together. No issues on any of my cars.

[Addicted To Boost]

x2 on that. I think with my oil pan gasket I added a little RTV just in the corners where it wraps around the mains, other then that it's just going to make it a big nasty mess.

That's what I meant. I should have clarified.