does anybody have a sure fire way to keep their rear end cover from leaking? mine doesn't leak around the bolts, but at the bottom of the cover closest to the ground. i'm using red rtv. should i let it dry for a 2-3 of hours before installing the cover? how long before adding oil? mine always starts leaking within a couple of days.

 

Are you using the stock cover? Some aftermarket cover makers tell you to use the RTV.
I've never had a leak using just the gasket on a 10 bolt,ever. Just for the heck of it, wipe down the rear (especially around the fill plug) and drive it for a while, check it again. I've had to teflon tape wrap the fill plug to keep it from leaking - when it did, it ran back and dripped from the bottom of the diff cover. A pinion seal leak will run back and drip from the cover, also.
Good luck.

 

FWIW, I've used the Blue RTV before, buttoned it up, filled it w/fluid and boogied down the road with no leaks. I have no experience w/the red RTV on the diff cover. Don't forget to torque the cover in a "star" pattern-it's not so much the proper torque but the sequence that counts.

 

The only gasket sealant I ever use is
that copper-kote stuff (in the can w/
swab inside the lid). It tacks in a few
minutes and it loves to stick. You can
get it stuck down to the diff case real
well, then brush a coat onto the outer
face & the cover & bolt up.

If you've overtorqued the cover in the
past, you may have warped it so that
tight bolts aren't making even seal.
Could use double gaskets, or make the
cover dead flat again.

RTV is for windows and bathtubs. It
will make the most of any excuse to
give up sticking (like any oil film
at all).