dw456post

Is there any company that makes a GEN V oilpan gasket?? This gray crap in a tube is not a very good gasket. We are back in the 1950's.

G Atsma

The gray crap in a tube, when used correctly in the right application, works better than cork/paper gaskets.
It is a polymeric seal between 2 stationary metal surfaces, sealing flexibly where paper does not.

SAPPER

iTrader: (10)

The gray stuff is the best stuff if used correctly. Like G said above. Run by your local GM dealer and tell them you need GMS, p/n 88864346.
Damn, I type in that number 100 times a day. LMAO

dw456post

I wanted one of those metal/silicone seals like they have been making for years, not paper/cork. It's really hard to get an even bead while you are squeezing a tube all the way around the perimeter. GM has a machine to put on the bead. Don't know why we are going backward --- the valley cover has a nice seal, the intake ports have nice seals, valve covers have seals. I don't get why the front, rear and oilpan don't have similar seals. LME mills their front cover and installs a seal. I have a Holley pan, they should have cut a groove for a seal. I hate leaks.
Directions say to apply the gray stuff, let it sit for a few minutes and then torque it. If you have a little more bead than required, it hangs over the inside of the oil pan. That's all I need is for a piece of this to break off and get in the oil system. In other words---it's Crap!
Nobody would use this gray stuff if there was a gasket available.

SAPPER

iTrader: (10)

I have 3 of these. Greatest thing ever for GMS or anything in a small tube. Easy on the hands and can lay a bead like a welder.

dw456post

Thanks!! Never seen one of those before.
I did go to the GM dealer a while before I posted this and got a short tube of that gray seal. Put it in my gun, cut off the end, poked a hole in the seal and I could barely squeeze the trigger. I guess it had been at the dealer a long time---expired in August. 20 bucks down the drain. I did try a tube from the parts store. It came out a lot easier but I didn't like the final result---put the pan on anyway and let it sit for a week. Wayyy too easy to take off. It would have leaked. I cleaned the rails with acetone and alcohol, so I know they were squeaky clean. I ordered a 2012/ 5.3 oil pan gasket today. I want to see how close it fits. If it doesn't, I think I will pay a machine shop to put a groove around the pan and order some round silicone and use that. That's how much I hate this goop stuff. The back crank cover has to be fixed also. My deal is---I don't want to build this engine, put it in the car, bolt up the trans, hook up the wiring and find out it has a leak and have to pull it out. My brain can't understand why GM would use a nice gasket up until 2013 and then start with the squeeze tube. Cheap bastards

dw456post

I thought a gen 4 oilpan gasket might be made to work on the gen V. No way. The back 4 holes line up, but that's all. Plus the Holley oilpan has such a narrow rail the silicone part hangs off to the inside.

dw456post

Sapper, I ordered one of those tube squeezers. Works great---Thanks. I used the black rtv instead of the gray.

SAPPER

iTrader: (10)

Like I said, I have 3. All 3 at home now. I brought my box home because I'm done turning wrenches at work.
The black is good too. I just prefer the gray.
The best thing to do is become good friends with a tech that works at the dealer. They will have more GMS, Dexcool, and Dex VI stuffed in a box or locker than you can imagine. He can hook you up with as much misc stuff than you'll ever need.