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Originally Posted by MMZ_TimeLord
Jaydee116,
I disagree right back... 
If you compress the sealant all the way BEFORE it sets up... you are NOT getting any true compression... but simply spreading it out and forcing it out of the spaces that are truely flush. Any areas that have a gap will have sealant, but will NOT have a compressed gasket seal. |
RTV Silicon is an ADHESIVE. You need to apply it like one. The only way it makes a good seal is my clamping it tight. Your not squishing all the sealant out. If that is the case I would have had over 50 (and dozens of re-seals) blocks leaking over the years. I have to PRY my tops off when I need to take it off.
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I don't know about you... but when I use sealant it's usually because a gasket does not exist (o-ring, or any other type). So in essence I am using the sealant AS a gasket.
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Exactly, but not like a O-ring or a standard gasket. It is an adhesive. Says it right on the container.
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When using a sealant in place of a gasket... you should treat it as such. Put the parts together... yes... let the sealant create a gasket by letting it "skin" 10-15 minutes at least... THEN tighten everything down.
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If you let it skin then it isn't going to adhere properly and it will not dry properly. If you want to do that then use a gasket maker version. It needs to adhere to both sides in order to make a proper seal. That is why you should sand a smooth surface like Acrylic or Lexan because to surface is TO smooth and it will not adhere well. That is why it will leak on the acrylic side and not the metal side.
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RTV when used in automotive applications says you can run water through the system right away... but I have had leaks when parts are torqued down before the sealant has set up enough to create a gasket. So my method is based entirely upon my personal experience. 
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Then your doing something wrong. I go through 24 tubes of the stuff a job and about 10-15 jobs a year over the last 7 years and our company does over 40 jobs a year and we don't have any leaking problems. We apply a 20 year warranty to all leaks to boot. I think we have the process down pretty good and it is the same process I use on my blocks until now that I started using O-rings.