I have a mechanic that is going to replace my oil pan gasket for me however I wanted to see if there was any other parts that I may want to replace or look at while he's in there I do believe it is also leaking oil from a few other places
That's what I did also. The silicon gaskets keeps the GM sealer from oozing into the engine.When I put the pan back on I use the felpro silicone gasket with gm sealer around the outer part of the pan
Next time I do one of these I should use that method. I just flat out applied RTV into the groove. Now I wonder if some of that has gone into the oil return passage; although I did go easy (and I believe pre-spread it) around the return passages. Engine's been running fine since so I would guess it's okay.When I put the pan back on I use the felpro silicone gasket with gm sealer around the outer part of the pan
=========================I wouldn't start an oil war in an oil oan gasket thread. It ain't going to matter to gasket what you run.
Sub I only use the gasket on the pan with gm sealant. The half case gets only gm sealant. The new oil manifold gets a small amount of gm sealant around the outer perimeter. I have had no leaks doing it this wayUse the slippery kind of oil in whatever brand and type you like, with the viscosity range recommended in the owner's manual. Beyond that it makes not one iota of difference to your engine now or in 2055.
As an aside, one reason I advise using the GM procedure with RTV on the oil pan rail carries over from the same new procedure for the halfcase seam. That is a precision machined face mating surface - because the entire halfcase is also the lower main bearing girdle: ANY excess sealant in that flange and you have large mechanical problems - like loose main bearings and oil distribution plate leaks. That mating surface MUST be dead nuts clean and flat. Because that halfcase is a structural part of the engine block assembly you cannot use a squishy "gasket" there - it must be a precision metal-to-metal contact.
If you read the GM procedure closely they specifically advise to clean out the oil return passages and the outer edges of the block at both the half case and oil pan seams after assembly, so they expect the RTV to squish out some. But one can go a bit overboard on the amount used I suppose. I asked Jake about using the OEM silicone seals and a light bead of RTV around the perimeter of the seal to keep the RTV from getting into the engine and he replied that would be fine.As an aside, one reason I advise using the GM procedure with RTV on the oil pan rail carries over from the same new procedure for the halfcase seam. That is a precision machined face mating surface - because the entire halfcase is also the lower main bearing girdle: ANY excess sealant in that flange and you have large mechanical problems - like loose main bearings and oil distribution plate leaks. That mating surface MUST be dead nuts clean and flat. Because that halfcase is a structural part of the engine block assembly you cannot use a squishy "gasket" there - it must be a precision metal-to-metal contact.