How hard is it to put the inspection cover on and it not leak? Mine was done at the dealer and it is dripping on the floor. Is there a trick to these cars to put it back together without leaking?

 

Depends on whether or not they used an actual gasket or RTV to seal it. If they used RTV and were sloppy/quick about it, it could have left a gap. I double gasketed mine, and it hasn't leaked on me. Even with a single gasket, it didn't leak.

 

It is leaking on both sides almost from the top all the way around. I did one on an old camaro I had and used an aftermarket cover and never had a leak. I am taking it back tomorrow morning to get them to fix it. No one I use ever checks when they get through to see if a leak is fixed or not.

 

That's why I don't trust anyone to work on my car but me...I may take forever to do a job, but I make damn sure I don't have to go back and do it again.

 

When I had my gears put in, the tech used RTV to seal the cover. I told him I prefered the gaskets because the RTV leaked and he said that he had never had RTV sealant leak on him.
When I got home....the cover was leaking. So I drove it back to the shop, showed the guy it was leaking, then drove home and installed a gasket myself and torqued down the cover to 22 ft-lbs.
It hasn't leaked since.

 

there's nothing wrong with rtv as a sealant by itself. it's as simple as the person doing the work. both surfaces have to be completely clean and dry. best way is to use a scotch pad on an air tool to rough the surfaces and flatten them. then use something like brake cleaner to remove any oily residue. if using the stock type cover, then flatten the cover wher the bolt holes are from previous tourqe-down distortion. then apply the rtv in a 1/4" bead around the cover, making a loop around the holes if no gasket. if using a gasket, then reduce the rtv to 1/8" bead. big thing is to not over torque the bolts! if using an aftermarket girdle, then there is to be no gasket used and an 1/8" bead of rtv. torque bolts to spec is very important on the girdle. don't let the tech guy use an impact to re-assemble.

 

I had poor results with RTV on my MAC cover but a
gasket plus my favorite gasket goo, "copper in a can"
style, is leak free. I don't like RTV for anything really.
Certainly nothing I would like to stay stuck.

Inspect the cover with a straight-edge and see if
prior overtorqueing has dimpled in the bolt-hole areas.
You can flatten it with a hammer and punch against
a flat anvil surface if so. Just need the nonuniformity
to be well less than gasket thickness.