I'm going to offer a counterpoint and just say no RTV. I've never had a problem with these leaking at the gasket, and if you ever have to replace it again, the OG gasket material is hard enough to remove, RTV will just make it that much more difficult.

 

Affirmitive

 

If you put enough RTV you don't even have to scrape the old gasket.

I'm kidding, I'm kidding

 

I am in the no RTV camp. FWIW, the RAVE says nothing about using any type of gasket sealant. And, the three I've done were done with no RTV and all is well. I see Extinct is in the other camp, but since he uses RTV his experience doesn't speak to what happens if you don't. Maybe there's no harm in using RTV, but as Brandon wrote it likely makes for more work if you have to do the job again.

 

I put a very thin bead on both sides.

 

AT least 20 water pumps here. Dry gaskets get pushed in to the grooves in the machined surfaces. Over time, the gaskets stick to the metal, as many of you have found out the hard way. Silicone on both sides of the gasket, put on while still wet/tacky will bond to the aluminum surfaces and seal it to the gasket. Let it cure 24 hrs before torqueing gives enough resilience to fill any imperfections when torqued. Next change the silicone will peel off much easier than the paper will.

But hey, what do I know, I've only done 20+.

 

2-4 hrs is crazy... did mine in about 45 min from removal to replacement. I used the blue RTV sealant with gasket, put an even thin coat on the mating surfaces... wait 15 min for set up, put on the gasket and reinstall... wait for full cure before driving. Went smooth ...

 

Be sure to keep your bolts in the same location. I drew an outline of the gasket no a piece of cardboard and stuck the bolts into the cardboard as I removed them. Confusing a longer bolt location with a shorter can end in tears.

 

I went with the spray on gasket sealer and paper gasket and have no problems. Red stuff used in the AB videos. Helps hold it in place too.

 

I was taught by quite the rover/ foreign mechanic to sans the gasket all together & use rtv. That the gasket pushes alignment of the fan pulley out too far in line of the serp belt.

I have not taken the time to measure or investigate tolerances, but this guy was not someone I needed to challenge (specifically in the D2 realm)

I have done my water pumps the same since. I’ve had to replace failed pumps, never a gasket.

just sharing