Doesn't success depend on proper prep and application? If so it would stand to reason that anything designed to do the job should work admirably. A lot of people don't like the idea of an RTV silicone type sealant because sometimes it breaks loose on the inside and clogs oil passages.

Permatex aviation is one example of an anaerobic sealant.

For sealing metal to metal, something like Threebond 1104 should work great as that's what I've used on motorcycle cases which in my limited experience are rarely perfectly machined and are subject to high temps and vibration. Never had a leak because that stuff is awesome. It's quite popular with the Porsche crowd. I probably wouldn't use just any old Permatex RTV they sell at McParts though. Can't go wrong with whatever MB uses.

I'd say if you clean the mating surfaces like you're supposed to and apply the goop in a nice neat bead you should not have any issues but there's a great potential for error there as common definitions of clean and neat vary wildly.

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'02 BMW 325i
'85 300D 450k
'93 190E 2.6 170k(killed by tree)
'08 Ducati Hypermotard 1100S 6k
'06 Ducati S2R800 14k(sold)