Sealant on the rubber gaskets?

[MGMorden]

Ok, my 2012 Chevy Sonic (1.8L Sedan) has been cursed lately. Fixed a leaking valve cover only to discover that its leaking oil from the oil cooler too.

I've got a new oil cooler (and new thermostat housing since I believe it's leaking coolant from there too . . .) but was wondering: do most of you guys apply a gasket sealant to the rubber gaskets before reassembly or is it more common to just bolt it down with the gasket as-is? I've got everything torn apart to replace these and figured I'd ask before reassembling.

Thanks!

 

[T Talley]

I don't put sealant on a rubber gasket, I am not a professional mechanic so I am curious to see what others say about this

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[macdiesel]

Neve used a sealer on a rubber gasket. Not to say you couldn’t or situations were you may have too.

 

[gnonne]

Agreed. The rubber gasket IS the sealant. Like a hose washer, of sorts.

A lot of plumbing-type fittings have rubber washers in them and no sealant is required or recommended. Flex tubes for a water heater are a good example.

They need to be snug, but not so tight that you rip the rubber gasket on the final turn.

 

[macdiesel]

Agreed. The rubber gasket IS the sealant. Like a hose washer, of sorts.

A lot of plumbing-type fittings have rubber washers in them and no sealant is required or recommended. Flex tubes for a water heater are a good example.

They need to be snug, but not so tight that you rip the rubber gasket on the final turn.

Yeah, they only time I’ve seen sealant used with a rubber gasket maybe at the end of a gasket. To fill a corner or a place the gasket doesn’t reach fully.