Here is what I do with RTV sealants... I really clean the surfaces to be mated... then I put as thin a coat on each surface to be mated as I can... including both sides of the gasket... and let them cure.. like 12 hours... then when I am ready to put the item on I place another thin layer on all surfaces and quickly put them together... I use my finger to get it thin... and I just pull it down tight enough to be sure it is evenly contacted ... then I let that cure and then put the proper torque on the bolts... I have not had this method leak in 20 years... yes it is compulsive/obsessive...but when you have to take a bunch of stuff off just once you may decide the peace of mind is worth it...... if you study the reasons for RTV gasket failures you will recognize this as a method of avoiding them... Greg