oil pan/gasket, to goop or not?
 

what is the "proper" procedure to install oil pan? ie: to "goop" or not?

this pan (bike not MB, but same principal) appears to have gasket adhered to pan, but none between gasket and block. shop manual doesnt specify.

what is the "best" procedure, and if so, which "sealant" to utilize?

any insights are greatly appreciated. thanks, - benton

no goop, just get some silcone and very lightly touch each side so it is slightly tacky, works for me anyway.
m

what is the fast way to do this job without taking out so much stuffs?

Not sure which car you are doing this on....
 

....but I illustrated the process on my 1983 300SD on my web site.

Go to cars - Technical - Chassis and look at Maintenance Service.

I usually back up paper gaskets with Permatex Aviation Form-a Gasket. As a bonus, it holds them in place during assembly.

For cork gaskets, I apply the Aviation stuff just to the pan side to hold it in place, and make up for any 'wavyness' or piting, particularly for steel pans. Also holds gasket in place. The block side is usually very flat, and if I have to remove the pan again, I want the gasket to mostly stay with the pan for easier cleanup instead of 'splitting' and making a mess.

For rubber gaskets, I would not use any goop unless the mating surface had pitting or was otherwise not flat. I would use RTV Gasket Maker to back it up, if needed.

success !!!
 

thanks for the input, my result was very successfull.

as i said, this was on a bike (V-4), alum pan, small and flat. this was necessary due to PO stripping drain plug thread and helicoil finally failing.

anyway... the pan gasket was still attached to the pan very well and was in good shape. so i cleaned the block surface VERY well and then "scuffed" the gasket to a uniform roughness before installing without any goop of any kind.

filled with fresh oil (semi synth) and checked for leaks... none
started engine, ran untill warm, still no leaks :)
couple of laps of subdivision, close inspection, still no leaks :p

i am going to post my solution to the drain plug solution as well in seperate thread. it was also very sucessfull and cheap.

thanks again. - benton