Re: Tips for ensuring best possible seal on transmission pan?Vic Smith wrote:
> On Thu, 2 Jul 2009 22:00:16 -0700 (PDT), muzician21
> <muzician21@yahoo,com > wrote:
>
>> On Jul 1, 1:38 am, Toyota MDT in MO <toyotamdti...@yahoo,com > wrote:
>>
>>> Common practice is to ensure a straight gasket surface that is also free
>>> of nicks/gouges (this includes the transmission case surface).
>>
>> How flat is flat enough? If I'm checking the contact surface of the
>> pan with a metal straight edge, how close to machined flat - i.e. no
>> gaps visible when checking with a backlight should I aspire to?
>>
>> What about flattening the overall surface using a straight wood piece
>> about as long as the pan (between the curves at the corners obviously)
>> just narrow enough to fit under the lip of the pan on one side and
>> another flat wood piece driven with a small sledge to work the
>> surface? Is there a better way?
>>
>> I've been lowering the raised bolt hole areas using a ball peen and a
>> piece of wood on the other side of the lip as a dolly - is flush flat
>> at the bolt holes ideal or would it be better to have them actually a
>> bit lower, maybe to compensate for when the bolts are torqued?
>
> You can only do so much with a pan, and it seems you've done it.
> If the pan lip is weakened so much that it flexes between the bolt
> holes under proper torquing and still leaks, you have to either use a
> dope, reinforce the lip, or get a new pan. to the point you still
> leak.
> You just might be worrying too much about "flatness."
> It's not a precision fit, and a good gasket and proper torquing
> should do it.
> I replaced a Grand Am pan gasket that was leaking about a month ago,
> and snugged it up to just squeeze the gasket a bit.
> Didn't bother with a torque wrench.
> It was seeping a few drops the next day after a test drive and I went
> over the bolts again and got about quarter to half a turn out of them
> to get to the first tightness, as the gasket had flattened a bit.
> Neoprene. Been dry since then. I'll check again that the bolts are
> snugged next time I jack it up.
> But I wouldn't hesitate to dope it if it gave me a problem.
> I'd use this:
> http :// www .permatex,com /products/Automotive/automotive_gasketing/gasket_sealants/auto_Permatex_Form-A-Gasket_No_2_Sealant.htm
>
> Everything perfectly clean, l'd lay a bead on the pan lip about 1/4"
> wide and 1/8" deep, lay in the gasket then the same bead on the
> gasket.
> Snug the bolts up from the center of the pan out, alternating sides,
> in maybe 3 passes.
> Then I'd give it 24 hours to cure before refilling with trans fluid.
> That's always worked for me for beaten up trans/oil pans and valve
> covers.
> If it leaked after that I'd never touch a wrench again.
> Because that would mean my mojo is gone and a car will fall on me.
>
> --Vic
>
>
>
>
Permatex #2... Best shit ever! Well, Hylomar is good stuff for hoses and
water connections too.