You need a Valco Cincinnati Tube-Grip. Makes it much easier to apply the RTV.

This video is excellent. Probably not many people will need this information, but for those who do -- friggin lifesaver.

I like this guy because he leaves a tiny bit of area for you/us, the learning tech, to figure out the exact technique and finesse required. It keeps the mind in engineer mode, instead of just learning word for word like an AI robot.

@1:00 also something very important to note about those Roloc discs. They contain oxides/abrasives the same found in sand paper. Using those on any open engine/case work will load what ever you are working with abrasive particles. These particles are especially bad in engine oil and can cause bearing failure. Using the RTV Dissolver and plastic scrappers are perfect. You can use Roloc discs but only if you can use a parts washer/clean the parts really good before re-assembly.

ASE master tech here as well. I have uses untra black years. On timing covers and other large covers I've always used my finger to spread the rtv out and wiped any excess away from the inside (where the oil is) before assembly. Never had any leaks doing that. You are 100% correct, a tube will last a long time. A dab will do ya!

Thanks for the pliers tip. I've always struggled to apply rtv because of the pain on my fingers caused by pressing the tube for a while.

Ooops... I am one of those who used METAL Razor Blades. :( I gotta say I do recall having snags. I went over it with a smooth sanding paper (probably another no no). I wished I would have seen this video before having to remove the gasket that I can't get off this 1980 Kawasaki KZ750 Motorcycle's oil pan. Plus I don't have a lift to work properly underneath, so being upside down for hours is painful. I'm almost done and have the surfaces as smooth as I can get it. I've been searching how to place RTV correctly before I mess that up and I ran into this video. I will make sure to make the bead as you explained. I hope I don't have any issues because of my removal methods :(

Very good, and practical information. Never thought about plastic blades and gasket remover. Will add these to my tool arsenal. Thanks.

Thank you!!! Excellent video and tips. Watched two other videos prior and they were very cavalier about surface cleaning, silicone application, and machined surfaces. You explained very well the DOs and DON'Ts of application. I needed that to mate the two aluminum surfaces that I am about to assemble.

Excellent video. Thank you for the excellent tips. I must confess to previously laying on the RTV like a plumber.. Never again..

Wow thank you, I'm glad I watched this. You just saved me from making an avoidable and expensive mistake.

Thanks. One of the most thorough minded videos I've seen so far. I'll be looking at more of your videos 1st from this point if I need any more help.

Thanks Lou for the videos you made

I needed this vid last week. Thanks Lou

Thanks for the great video! Informative and useful!

Pliers to squeeze and roll the tube while you go, will too often put tears/cuts in the tube then it's dried out the next time you try to use it. Just cut the nozzle slightly bigger, and take your time as it is only a minute difference either way. I find it easier to just push near the back of the tube and not worry about trying to get the tube perfectly flat/rolled during application, instead wait till you're done, lay the tube on a flat surface, and just roll a hard round object from the tail of the tube, up it till the RTV is filling the top and coming out a little. You want it to come out a little so when it forms a dry plug, that seals the tube then you just pull that plug off the next time you use it.

wow..... I've been wrenching in my garage/driveway for almost 30 years and your "post-it note" and "finger spread" examples were great teaches. (Light bulb went off- FINALLY!) years and years of doing it wrong and sometimes getting lucky. Makes sense now with your visuals why so little is recommended. Much appreciated all you effort in creating your content. Liked and New Subscriber 👍

you make a very convincing argument thank you for sharing your thoughts

Thank you for your knowledge and support

Thank you for a highly informative lesson👍👍

Felicidades, es de los mejores videos ke he visto para la aplicación del rtv (silicon), saludos desde Mexicali BC.

Great informative video. Many thanks for sharing your expertise with us. Regards from Sydney Australia

Great video, didn't know they made plastic razors!

Thank you for getting right to the point!

Good video two improvements would be covering proper product sealer selection and using a clear flexaglass plate to show the excess squeeze out and proper torque to show and tell . Clean and ppprepp

Very useful. I know I need to work on bead work even for some adhesive work that I do. I love your explanations and demos. I wonder if I can get some washers to practice (putting the washers on a nut/bolt, put my bead on, then tighten it up to see if my bead was appropriate or not based on the ooze). I'll find a way to practice somehow...before having the guts to do it on an engine. :) It was a short video, but every second of it was useful. Thanks!

Great video. I had the oil pan sealed twice and its still leaks through from few locations because of incorrect application of the sealant and because of over-sanding the aluminum pan Really great video ! Thanks !

rtv though is also used as a gasket type filler in some applications that might not be metal to metal the mating surfaces might include a gasket with gaps that the rtv bridges in this case a wider bead is used say 1/4" bead to fill the space between the two ends where the gasket would join except for the space between the ends if you follow...

Great video. Thank you!

glue for the crankcase that is filled with the crankshaft, do you suggest using silicone or liquid sir? And what brand of glue is good, sir?

awesome video! thank you soo much for the useful information. i defiantly added to much rtv on my oil pan for my honda haha

Awesome straight forward video giving us the right information to get the job done the right way. Thank you so much for sharing your professional knowledge with us all.

Get the Valco tube grip, works excellent!

Fantastic video! Thank you

Lou, Thank you for creating these videos! It is interesting how I came across you on youtube. You had worked on a Mercedes C280 I owned previously when you were a Suds. That has been some time ago. Now I purchased an SL550 and here you are again! Love the universe : ) I am in central IL. and would like to link up with you again if possible?

Great information.

Excellent explanation and demonstration. Would have liked to see how much you squirt out on the sealing surface before you joined the parts. Thanks for the valuable chemical tips!

Man i just did my trans oil for the first time the other day and im proud to say i inuited a bit of this. Kept a small, probably closer to 3mm bead nice and tidy all the way around. Used a plastic putty knife to removed all the old shit. Did a final clean with some brake cleaner - a recommendation from a trusted friend and bolted her back on with new filter, gaskets oiled. Measured the amount of fluid removed and replaced exact amount. Only thing i got lazy on was checking the fluid level at operating temp post-op. Mazda CX 5 requires removal of air box to get to the dipstick which is bolted in from the top. I just got lazy and said fuck it, i measured. 😅

Excellent tutorial! Plastic razor blades??? Never knew!! Amazon right now…

Before watching this video I would have used too much of a bead. Thanks for the education.

Great tips

Another nice job Lou.

If you really want to see how much to use, just look up a "factory assembly" video and watch the robot put on a little bead. It's typically about the size of the straw on a WD40 can, or the little white tube of a Q-tip. Not much bigger than 1mm in diameter- maybe 2mm's max.

ive always had great success with dawn dishsoap to get rtv off, i just mix it in a bottle and spray it on.. then just blade it off.

very helpful

So question, I'm gonna do a transmission pan gasket on a 99 Camry. Came with gasket and filter and I've read on a book and Haynes repair manual that the gasket is enough by itself to seal, but I feel like including some gasket maker to hold the gasket is that fine or will I get problems in the future?.

How long does cure time for liquid seal

That permatex rtv remover didn't work in the 80s, and still doesn't. There are the blue or orange fiber brushes you can put on a drill, or brass brushes but plastic scrapers, razors and wd40 are sadly the best way. Good video.

Are you supposed to finger tight the bolts to let the sealant tack up for a minute or so? And then factory spec bolts?

I will only use recommended methods, or Anaerobic sealant and only a very thin layer at that.

Never new about plastic razor blades and gasket remover thank you for that video 🫵

Well explained, but what about engine oil and filter intervals after rtv use? Thanks you

Well damn, I’m def the bad bead guy 😅 to be fair I never had problems over 100,000 Miles

Good video. Can you tell me if l should use rtv on a water pump gasket made of steel with some sort of felt-like coating on it ?. Thank you in advance.

Here’s one… new water pump, new water pump backing plate (it’s on a Delorean and doesn’t mate up to the block), paper gasket. Both surfaces new and flat… to seal or not to?

Can this be used to as a gasket sealant for thermostat housing?

Is there some reason for not cleaning up excess on outside or is it just preference? Thks..jc

Hi. Do I still need to use this If the product comes with a gasket? I'm doing a water pump and was told to use a gasket maker, but what's the proper way? Thanks

Hi Tried to go to cartechconnect, website could not be found? How do contact you about a s500 intermittent stall, dash power loss, no crank issue.

Nice

How do u keep the rtv from drying in the tube? Recapping it doesnt work.

Doing a water pump on charger and I keep getting different opinions about etc silicone on rubber gasket I still have not come to a good solution

I wonder if plastic razors are sharp

Do you use Mercedes brand sealant for aluminum oil pans or can you use something else?

you crazy cutting it that small i need to use so much pressure to squeeze it out my hands die, is there a better way to do it?

I once saw a Lotus engine with a cam destroyed by a 1/4" square piece of RTV that got loose in the engine.

is it better to have a round bead or to flatten the bead before mating the two surfaces?

Does the rtv go on the inside or the outside of the bolt holes?

Master tech Lou get you a valco tube squeezer

Hey guys relax a bit. Seeing a few comments on clogging up oil galleries and such with rtv. However those oil filters are amazing things. The only way you get to clogging up the engine is if you have so much stuff in the filter that the filter bypass activates. I think best case scenario is if you let it cure properly into a hard solid. If the filter can catch broken off engine bits, I'd think rtv should be no problem 🤔

But about every aluminum part ive ever rtv’d has been all kinds of scratched up and dinged on the sealing surfaces,.

Thanks you for speaking in millimeters.

Is it safe to use rtv for a valve cover?

Does your bead size demonstration apply to oil pans as well?

What about on a front diff actuator ?

What's the part number of that tool?

How long do you let it setup for?

Man got a PHD in RTV

Loctite 598 in 190ml pressure can and forget about all that malarkey...

Have you ever watched the Permatex "training" vids? Their bead is hilariously large.

not ultra, right stuff best.

More is always better.

Lou, I have a 92 previa and all the valve cover gaskets I can source are all after market. (Felpro V Reinz) When I install them with the factory valve cover bolts, the gaskets barely squeeze to the head. In turn, they seal for a couple months max. I’m hesitant to use silicone in tandem with the rubber gasket. Do you have any ideas? Thanks in advance for any advice.

yoo what about brake clean? Workin on a 1zzfe cylinder head