I usually tighten her up good, wait 5 minutes and refill her!

 

^^this

Mine was leaking the other day after this exact procedure. ...So I tightened the loose cover bolts that were literally about to fall out. All of them. No leaks since

 

The tube should say. I let mine cure for 24 hours, personally.

 

I usually give the cover just a couple of minutes to set up before I fill the diff, and I have never had issues with leaks.

 

I let mine setup for about 20 mins before bolting on, but I do not fill or drive for 24 hours afterward. Every RTV I've used says to do that in the instructions.

 

I'll typically let the RTV/gasket maker set up for a day before filling with gear oil. I used to use a differential cover gasket but not anymore since coming to this forum and it's just an additional surface to leak.

A real good Pematex rep gave me a tip if you heat up the mating surface a little with a heat gun/hair dryer it brings the oil to the surface out of the pores then you can wipe it off with alcohol. Seems to work pretty well and probably helps the gasket maker set up a little quicker at first.

 

I have never waited at all. Only the amount of time it took to clean the inside of the diff. Then I bolted it back up and filled it.

 

I wait about 15 minutes. Never had any leaks.

 

I use anaerobic sealer on diff covers. I usually let it set for a couple of hours. I use this type on things where there are two metal surfaces and no gasket when there should be. The only problem is if it squeezes out inside it sort of never dries. If I use too much sometimes I have found some small rubbery bits inside the diff. I figure there is no damage done with a rubbery bit in the bottom of the diff housing. I wouldn't use the anaerobic types on anything where any passages would get blocked or clogged.

When there is a gasket I use rtv type as I think the rtv type is meant to be used with a gasket and cure time is usually longer (most say 24 hours) although you can get faster cure types. Having a couple of thermostat or water pump gaskets leak over the years I always use the correct gasket and water pump sealer with it. and try and let it cure dry as long as I can. I think it says 24hrs although I have waited as little as a few hours in a pinch.

 

Felpro makes gaskets for the differential. It's so much cleaner and easier just to use a dry gasket.

 

A lube locker gasket isn,t a bad idea. I use this stuff, http://www.permatex.com/products-2/...gasketing/gasket-makers/permatex--the-right-stuff--1-minute-gasket--grey-detail

Put it on and go.

 

Ahh... Lube Locker, that's the gasket name I was trying to think of coralman that HighLonesome mentioned!

When I spoke with that Pematex rep he was nice enough to send be a couple tubes/cans of gasket maker. 1-min Right Stuff in the aerosol can was one of them you posted the link to but I've yet to use it.

He also explained that friction modifier additives or type gear oils eventually break down regular RTV gasket makers and sent me a tube of "Permatex Gear Oil RTV Gasket Maker" in the below link.

http://www.permatex.com/products-2/product-categories/gasketing/gasket-makers/permatex-gear-oil-rtv-gasket-maker-detail

He sent it to me since I had told him I put Royal Purple w/friction modifier in my 96 non-LSD 35 axle to try to quiet down pinion bearing whine which found out doesn't work. Interesting when I told him I used Permatex Ultra Black to seal the cover he said, "I should be fine.".

PS, I only wait overnight or the next day to add gear oil after using gasket maker since I'm in no hurry to fill it up. I'm sure I could probably add the gear oil sooner.

 

I'd get a Lubelocker for the rear diff as well, but they don't make one for the D44a. I've had one in the front for years - I've used the same Lubelocker in four different D30 axles - still keeping the fluid in :thumbsup:

I usually let the gasket maker cure for a few minutes, tighten it up and refill. Never had a leak.. who the hell has time to wait for 24 hours?

 

If you have 24 hours to wait, why not?

If youre like me and cant wait, then apply the rtv, install cover and finger tighten bolts all the way down. Wait 15 min, or whatever your rtv recommends, then torque them to spec.

Ive done that half a dozen times with no leaks

 

Lubelocker for sure and if not that then 24 hr wait for me.

 

Why would people wait so long, out of interest? If you can refill after 15 minutes and not get any leaks, why bother waiting 24 hours?

 

Some have more patience.

 

I waited 30 mins and mine was fine, but I also didn't have a choice. I'd wait a day or so

 

I do it because the instructions say to. IMO, there's a reason the companies direct you to wait, and there's a reason some formulas require a 24h cure, and some can be instant use. If you want immediate use, get the Permatex Great Stuff 1 minute gasket maker. If you don't mind waiting, use the Permatex Ultra line.

Companies like Permatex pay people a lot of money to develop their products. There's a reason they have different products with different cure times - and they're NOT the same thing in different packaging. If you want to know the why, email them. If you don't care about the directions, then do what you've always done, what your dad did/does, what you were taught, etc.

As to the example from the FSM, that was most likely written several years ago. Products change a lot, and those directions may not be applicable to the "latest & greatest" in RTV gasket options. Also it does specifically reference Mopar RTV & similar products. I've never used Mopar RTV, but I'm assuming it's a different formula than the Permatex formulas being referenced in this thread.

 

If you want immediate use, get the Permatex Great Stuff 1 minute gasket maker. If you don't mind waiting, use the Permatex Ultra line

I use the Permatex Ultra. Never waited more than 15 minutes. Never had a leak. The oldest RTV seal I have is 5 years old, still dry as a bone. What can I tell you?

Obviously everybody's going to have their own opinion on this, but have I just been amazingly lucky in that everything I've ever sealed with RTV has never leaked despite my not waiting hours before refilling? Somehow, I doubt it. I suspect the fact that I've always prepped properly has more to do with it.

 

I like Permatex Ultra Grey because it's the direct replacement for a lot of import cars with OEM RTV oil pan gaskets. I mostly follow the directions:

"DIRECTIONS: 1. For best results, clean and dry all surfaces with a residue-free solvent such as Permatex® Brake & Parts Cleaner. 2. Cut nozzle to desired bead size. Gaskets are best formed using a 1/16" to 1/4" (2 to 6 mm) bead. 3. Apply a continuous, even bead of silicone to one surface, surrounding all bolt holes. Assemble parts immediately while silicone is still wet. Finger tighten until material begins to squeeze out around flange. Allow to dry for one hour then retighten 1/4 to 1/2 turn. 4. Silicone will skin over in one hour and fully cure in 24 hours under normal conditions. Allow more time for cold or very dry conditions. Clean uncured silicone from hands, tools and clothing with Permatex® Fast Orange® Wipes or Fast Orange® Hand Cleaner. NOTE: Not recommended for use on head gaskets or on parts in contact with gasoline."

I say mostly because the three times (Ultra Black, Ultra Grey, Ultra Grey) I've had my diff cover off I've just thrown it on, torqued it down, and filled it up. The directions don't say anything about waiting to fill until the RTV is fully cured; they just tell you how long it takes to cure. I've had RTV back there the last 60,000 miles with no leaks.