I normally don't throw stones, but I have a hard time listening to anyone who can't spell Iraq right.

Did you very thoroughly check the ground for the spring? Those suckers can bounce incredibly far. I have an old giant horseshoe magnet that I put a longer steel bar on the end of and drag along the floor when I lose a bolt or something. Hasn't failed me yet.

As far as the RTV and gasket combination debate goes, I can assure you it's perfectly fine to use both. I'm an engineer for one of the big three, currently working at an engine plant. Using RTV over top of a gasket is not something we do here, but overlapping RTV onto a gasket is definitely something we do. There is absolutely no reason to believe that using RTV is bad for an engine, so why would it be an issue to use it on top of a gasket? It changes absolutely nothing. I've personally seen many times what a particle so small you can barely see it will do to the functionality of a gasket. Adding RTV helps eliminate those issues and gives that added insurance. As long as you stick to a proper bead size just like any other RTV application, it won't do any harm and likely could help.

 

OK....sorry I didn't spell Iraq correctly, but being that you work at one of the "big three' , maybe you can tell us why we have forums, for all makes, to fix all the junk you guys produce ?

I'm 83, and I can tall you that I know how to spell Korea alright by the way...

 

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZAP!

FTW!

Post of the Day!

He said what I have been thinking! Some engineer or team of engineers designed the 0331 head. It was approved by someone. It was built by someone. And Chrysler buried their head in the sand when they started busting and ruining engines.

Kind of like faulty airbags for over 10 years that explode and send shrapnel into a person. And cheap ignition switches that were used for what, 7 years or so, until too many people were killed. I guess GM saved about a nickel per spring on those.

I guess if they "only" made that substandard head for 2 years before changing it, that's a pretty fast reaction by "one of the big three".

 

Permatex® High-Temp Red RTV Silicone Gasket OEM specified. Formulated for hi-temp applications, or heavy-duty use (such as towing, etc.). Replaces almost any cut gasket by making reliable “formed-in-place” gaskets that resist cracking, shrinking and migrating caused by thermal cycling. Coats pre-cut gaskets to increase reliability. Temperature range -65?F to 650?F (-54°C to 343°C) intermittent; resists auto and shop fluids. - See more at: http://www.permatex.com/products-2/p....v65AysI7.dpuf


To each his own, I say. So much for misinformation..........

 

Well, they are kind of tooting their own horn, wouldn't you say?

Hard to believe all the advertising and miracle claims sometimes.

I got the impression folks were talking about the standard black RTV, even though no one said that specifically.

To each his own.

 

You know what, you're absolutely right. I stepped way out of line and my remark was pretty rude. I sincerely apologize, and I thank you for your service.

As far as the engineering that goes into these vehicles, I would say it's pretty damn good. The 0331 head issue was caused by casting flaws, which is a supplier issue not a design issue. And yes, catching something like that and fixing it within two years is a pretty substantial accomplishment. I have an 0331 head on my XJ with 125k miles on it, and no issues so far (knock on wood). This isn't a problem that most owners would run into within even the first 5 years of a vehicle's life. Having worked in reliability testing, the quantity of vehicles that is tested up to that mileage is substantially lower than the total number of vehicles tested. Whether Chrysler took the correct testing avenues and didn't find the issue or they screwed up and didn't do full validation, I don't know. Either way, XJ owners in no way have anything to complain about when it comes to reliability and longevity of their vehicles. It's seldom we find a machine that can be put through as much abuse as we throw at our Jeeps. My XJ has been the most reliable vehicle I've ever owned. And I would say we have forums more to figure out how we can make our XJ's better. I know I've spent way more time on here looking up how to make my Jeep a better offroader than how to fix it.

Now, none of this has anything to do with the use of RTV with gaskets. It's still an industry standard to overlap the two during manufacturing, and in no way should harm an engine. I believe we were talking about whichever RTV is correct for the application. I've used RTV countless times on my vehicles, and I don't think I've ever used the black kind.

 

LOL


And, I'm 71 and I can spell Vietnam.

 

Well, I have neither the experience nor the knowledge to weigh in on the RTV debate, but since so many of you that are currently debating this topic, here, are vets... I'd just like to say Thank you, One and ALL, for your service!!

Been lurking on this thread and find the the whole topic really interesting, and everyone's opinions are great to know. As a backyard diy-er, who has to teach himself from watching videos and reading forums, all the knowledge I can get, the better, and when ya'll disagree about something, it sure makes for an interesting read.

 

Glad to know there are some other old farts on here. We may not be the best but we are some of the best! We may be slow but we go far!

 

Reminds me of the story about the young bull and the old bull looking down at a bunch of cows. The young bull says lets run down there and.... The old bull says lets walk down there and....

 

...... I'm gettin' up there, too and I swear at times I can still SMELL VietNam.

 

Did we loose DJB? CF is less without him!