6BTA Timing Cover, Oil Pan, and general sealing

[Alex]

Hi everyone, 

I’m getting ready to do out of boat maintenance on my 6BTAs and was wondering, what works best based on SBMAR and others experience for sealing components.

Area of interest for this post are basically the timing cover and oil pan, and others as may be suggested. I would not like to find an oil pan leak (or any other leaks) after engines are reinstalled.

Which is the tested leak proof method for sealing the timing cover and oil pan? Just dry gaskets, Gaskets and RTV, only RTV?

“The Right Stuff” or RTV Red or Grey or anything RTV “High Temp”?

Thank you

Topic

[Alex]

Oil pan oil port hole

Hi, Another question within this thread just to keep the topic were it belongs.

When sealing the oil pan to the block without the paper gasket and only using Ultra Black RTV:

Is there any concern on using rtv around the oil pickup port hole on the pan/to block?

Oil pan is the aluminum type (3348911) where the pickup tube bolts to the pan and then the pan bolts and aligns the oil port hole to the block. 

Thank you

[Alex]

I did try bleeding on #5 once but could not. Then resorted to the filter bleed screws with no luck either. Turns out the copper sealing washer on the racor was leaking.

Goes to show anything in the supply chain can and will fail.

Always a good idea to trace back all components.

[Rob Schepis]

Yes, and the manual shows the filter head oriented with the bleed screws facing out.  I’ve had no issue skipping 1 and 2 and going straight to 5.

[Alex]

Great. Have to keep them running healthy as they are expensive to replace, like anything else on a boat. Mine had 658hrs on the meter before removing it for maintenance. The  meter has a crack next to one of the spade connectors but works fine. Still ordered a replacement meter which I may have to hook up to a battery to bring it up to 658hrs to match actual hours.

I flipped around the fuel filter as bleed screws are on the back side, just to make it easier to bleed without removing the filter.

[Rob Schepis]

Nice.  I have the same unit in my boat and did the ex mani R&R a couple yrs ago.

[Alex]

Some photos 

[Alex]

Right Rob, its a Kohler 5EOZ. The original manifold was in good condition.

I just removed cleaned and reinstalled it and the mixing elbow. All part of some maintenance I did to the gen, repaint, rebuilt Sherwood, belts, hoses, filters, new base mount etc.

[Rob Schepis]

Kohler 5EOZ genset?  That exhaust manifold is no longer available.  Did you find one somewhere or did you remove, clean and reinstall the existing one.

[Alex]

Thank you Rob, I agree with your opinion in terms of surface condition and rtv decision for exhaust sealing.

For example, I just redid the manifold on my Kohler 5kw and decided to use Permatex 750F Optimum Max Temp red RTV with the metal gasket. The surface was not perfect (re-machined etc) but was not pitted either, mainly for peace of mind although it was probably fine. Didn’t want to redo it again, sort of double making sure of proper sealing.

I have not removed the exhaust manifolds on my 6BTAs yet but will consider doing the same there. From what I have gathered, using the metal gaskets and rtv will not hurt anything and may help if there is doubt in sealing with the actual surfaces. Same goes for the turbo gasket, although that gasket is like a cushioned metal sandwich type. If it were newly re-machined surfaces (like new) then the factory method of only gaskets should be fine.

Anyone else, feel free to share your experience.

[Rob Schepis]

What you are asking is going to be a personal preference, not a right or wrong, and other variables such as prep work and conditions of mating surfaces.  What has worked for me was Black RTV with the gaskets and the exhaust mani gaskets dry.

[Alex]

Thank you for the reply Rob.

Then only Ultra Black RTV, no factory gaskets for the Timing Cover and Oil Pan.

Is it recommended to use High Temp RTV on the cylinder head to exhaust manifold gaskets? Or just the stamped steel gaskets dry?

 

 

[Rob Schepis]

I use Ultra Black RTV

[Author]

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