Another question friends, is there anything special to look out for when buying a sealant for the oil pan cover? I have read someone said Lochtite
but can't seem to locate that where I live.

This is because of your spelling. The product is called Loctite and can be found here

Loctite Aviation Form-a-gasket No 3. Buy it at Super Cheap Autos or Repco.

It's a brown goo (used sparingly) that helped keep my Triumph oil-tight.
Doesn't harden and is easy to clean off.

Silicone hardens and can be difficult to remove.

blakey wrote:

It's a brown goo (used sparingly) that helped keep my Triumph oil-tight.
Doesn't harden and is easy to clean off.

Silicone hardens and can be difficult to remove.

Well if it kept a Triumph leak free..... and we used it in the airforce but only in addition to cork gaskets. Also I used it on the gaskets on my HG ute and it was superb but tried it on its own with the bike waterpump cover and was not successful so I ended up using a silicon based goo which definitely worked but not as easy to apply as the permatex.

I suspect it may have a lot to do with the mating surfaces as mentioned by Bert in another post. The problem is if you don't get it right the first time

Yes Phil, the Loctite product you refer to was the original Permatex No.3 Aviation Form a Gasket. And you are correct in stating it won't seal the water pump cover. The reason being it is designed to be used only on precision joints of rigid castings where no distortion can occur, that's why it is excellent for joining crankcase halves like on VW engines (and of course aircraft engines).
It will not dislodge from the joint inside an engine and travel through the arteries like a piece of nasty cholesterol, eventually causing a stroke ! The added bonus being it is not disloved by petrol, unlike Silicone, which is definitely allergic to petrol.

Silicone on the other hand, is quite good for sealing less accurate joints such as the water pump cover as it can take up irregularities and cope with expansion/contraction due to temp changes.

My favourite case jointing compound of all time though, was Yamaha Bond 3, used in the '70's as original equipment, fantastic stuff but no longer available I'm told.

My favorite sealer (used for many years) is Hylomar This is a British product.

I have used many of these myself Aviation type as well [as I work in this area] and have also kept my old Triumphs oil tight, but Blakey hit the nail on the head with the word SPARINGLY especialy with silicone types as I have seen many engines with gasket goo stuck on oil pick up pipes which is why I think non hardening types are best.
One of the best I have used is wellseal stinks like cat sh*t but works.

BIG D

BIG D wrote:

I have used many of these myself Aviation type as well [as I work in this area] and have also kept my old Triumphs oil tight,
BIG D

As bike dealer in my previous life (I was selling Italian and British bikes), I found the way to have the British bikes running free of oil leaks...
At 500km, you remove the engine and re-torque all the screws.
The problem is that screws are made of steel and cases are made from aluminum. Aluminum expends faster than steel under heat. This will generate distortion of the case. (Yeah, I know, the steel bolts should keep everything thight, but in practice this is not the case).
Not BMW, but it helps to understand some of the problems...

I bow in awe to the knowledge and wisdom of the brothers' zen.

Crazy Frog wrote:

BIG D wrote:

I have used many of these myself Aviation type as well [as I work in this area] and have also kept my old Triumphs oil tight,
BIG D

As bike dealer in my previous life (I was selling Italian and British bikes), I found the way to have the British bikes running free of oil leaks...
At 500km, you remove the engine and re-torque all the screws.
The problem is that screws are made of steel and cases are made from aluminum. Aluminum expends faster than steel under heat. This will generate distortion of the case. (Yeah, I know, the steel bolts should keep everything thight, but in practice this is not the case).
Not BMW, but it helps to understand some of the problems...

That makes a lot of sense, top tip


BIG D

Dennis wrote:...

My favourite case jointing compound of all time though, was Yamaha Bond 3, used in the '70's as original equipment, fantastic stuff but no longer available I'm told.

Dennis, have a look at Threebond 1194, which I think is very similar to Yamaha Bond 3. It is essentially grey synthetic rubber. see : http://www.threebond.co.jp/en/product/series/sealants/productdetails/1100/1194.html