Gasket Reuse and Applying Sealant
|     •  | Do not reuse any gasket unless specified. | 
 
|     •  | Gaskets that can be reused will be identified in the service procedure. | 
 
|     •  | Do not apply sealant to any gasket or sealing surface unless specified in the service procedure. | 
 
Separating Components
|     •  | Use incorporated pry points to separate components using an RTV sealing system. | 
 
|     •  | Do not try to separate RTV sealed components by prying against other engine components. | 
 
|     •  | Pry points are positioned so no other vital engine components are damaged when they are used. | 
 
Cleaning Gasket Surfaces
|     •  | Use care to avoid gouging or scraping the sealing surfaces. | 
 
|     •  | Use a plastic or wood scraper in order to remove all the sealant from the components. | 
 
|          | Do not use any other method or technique to remove the sealant or the gasket material from a part. | 
 
|     •  | Do not use abrasive pads, sand paper, or power tools to clean the gasket surfaces. | 
 
|        -  | These methods of cleaning can cause damage to the component sealing surfaces. | 
 
|        -  | Abrasive pads also produce a fine grit that the oil filter cannot remove from the engine oil. | 
 
|        -  | This fine grit is an abrasive and can cause internal engine damage. | 
 
Assembling Components
|     •  | Assemble components using only the sealant, or equivalent, that is specified in the service procedure. | 
 
|     •  | Sealing surfaces must be clean and free of debris or oil. | 
 
|     •  | Specific components such as crankshaft oil seals or valve stem oil seals may require lubrication during assembly. | 
 
|     •  | Components requiring lubrication will be identified in the service procedure. | 
 
|     •  | Apply only the amount of sealant specified in the service procedure to a component. | 
 
|     •  | Do not allow the sealant to enter into any blind threaded holes, as the sealant may prevent the fastener from clamping properly or cause component damage when tightened. | 
 
|         | Important: Do not overtighten the fasteners.
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|     •  | Tighten the fasteners to the proper specifications.  |