hmm...maybe you were paying too much attention to your gf instead of roxanne, she had to remind you whos more important....haha

 

Normally its the other way around; girls get jealous when they feel you care about your truck more than them. Unfortunatly, sometimes thats just the way it is.

Roxanne on the other hand doesnt mind who rides her. Gas, grass or ***; no one rides for free. BUT NO FATTIES!

 

I love that last part, why is it that people seem to think that RTV (create a gasket) has to be used on everything? Is there something in the mechanics certs that say to use this? I am curious where everyone seems to be getting this knowledge that RTV has to be used on everything.

Let me state this once and clear. Unless it is a two piece gasket rtv is not needed at all. There is a reason that both mating surfaces need to be smooth and clean.

I love the people that put rtv on valve cover gaskets, oil pan gaskets etc, and then complain 1000 miles down the road when things start leaking. rtv was not used originally and it is not needed to seal it the next time that it is opened.

Here is how to properly seal a tranny pan.

A wipe all excess oil from mating surfaces.
a if the surface is dirty, or is no longer shiny has obvious scratches ect, then use a trued sharpening stone wetted with wd40 to shine hone and clean the surface.
b Once all or nearly all of the impurities have been removed, wipe the mating surface clean again.
B use a cleaner like gasgaskanich, and clean the mating surface.

C If the oil pan has a painted mating surface, remove the paint, and clean the pan. Use the wetted stone, and hone the mating surface on the pan. Until it shines, wipe it clean.

D use the same cleaner on the pan mating surface, and clean it completely.

E Trying to keep your fingers off the surfaces of the gasket as much as possible, place the gasket on the pan.

F Put the pan up to the transmission and install bolts on all four sides to hold the pan.

G Torque all the pan bolts in an even mating pattern to spec.

There you have it you have installed a gasket the proper way, that will last much longer than any halfa&&#$ job done with rtv will. I had to fix the trans leak on my ram because the person that supposedly fixed it at the tranny shop when I bought it was one of these rtv it persons. His fix lasted 3 months, mine has lasted to this day without a drop lost so 5 years and counting.

The ONLY time that rtv is required is when there is a space filler needed. IE between the front and side gaskets of an oil pan gasket, or timing cover where the oil pan gasket meets the timing cover gasket. Even when the 4 different parts of the intake gasket on non over head cam engines meet.

I gotta say this like the guy from home makeover extreme edition. For some of you out there this is gonna sting a little. RTV SUCKS! it should never be used to "seal a gasket to a mating surface" that is the purpose of the gasket itself, it does not need rtv to do that come on people.

Now if I sounded a little harsh I apologize. This is one of those pet peeves that I have.

 

RTV is used from the factory on these transmissions. Mopar doesnt have a gasket for the 545-rfe. If you would like to use a gasket, Napa does have one. I havent heard how it works though ....
RTV is used on the rear differential too, if I remember correctly.

Page 21-754 of the downloadable service manual has it the tranny service procedure, which includes:

5. Place bead of Mopar RTV sealant onto the transmission case sealing surface.

 

I agree and disagree, RTV is ok to use if it is used as stated on the container. Now for our transmission pan it is factory installed with RTV. They do not make a pan gasket that I have found. Even the dealership's instructions are to use RTV.

 

Rear differentials are a bit of a different story, they have as far as I can remember always been mainly rtv only. I have seen some one piece gaskets, but never used one. I do hear that they seal much better and last much longer tho.

As far as the stock transmission on these trucks, I did not know that, you mean to tell me that dodge used rtv as the gasket, or used it with a gasket.

Also that post was not an attack on you or anyone personally.

Wow, just saw pics, and I gotta say that my love for dodge just dropped a little. (altho my love for any automatics is border line on just above despise) You weren't kidding, totally rtv, no real gasket at all. This is pathetic! If you take that pan off, spend the extra money to get a real gasket. Preferably find one that is solid rubber, and not that cork crap tho. I have seen three for sale that are total rubber in just a few minutes, so they are out there.

 

Here you go Eimer, Napa has them:
http://www.napaautoparts.com/Search/...+50022+2022006

 

No offense taken bud. RTV was the gasket. After I bought my truck, the trans started seaping after about 1,000 miles. I got under there and thought I got screwed; it looked like someone took RTV and tried to seal a leak. But nope, thats how they do it at Chrysler I guess.

 

Ahh well I guess they do make them.. I will stick with the RTV... I know how to use it properly and I disagree with the instructions from the manual.

My steps are and would be..
1. Drop the pan
2. Clean the transmission surface with plastic scrapper then clean with a cleaner
3. Remove the old filters
4. Fill the new can style filter with ATF4
5. Soak the pick up filter with ATF4
6. Clean the pan with contact cleaner
7. Scrap the pan surface removing all old RTV
8. Place a bead of RTV on pan (set let stand for 20 mins)
9. Place pan in position and torque to specs
10. Wait at least 30 mins (you need to let the RTV set up)
11. Top off with ATF4

12. Open a beer and be happy (I have never had anything ever leak doing it this way)

 

From some things that I have read, its never a good idea to torque RTV right away. You were first supposed to set it, let it dry for a little bit, and then torque it down so all the RTV doesnt spread out. Idk though, this is why I took my truck in for tranny service.