[FC] Rocker gasket and pan gasket sealing

[BobHelt at aol.com]

In a message dated 5/15/05 3:27:06 PM US Mountain Standard Time, 
VairMech at aol.com writes:

>  I am sure there are a hundred answers out there but  here is what I do, 
> 
Hi Everyone,
Over the years, I have developed a certain philosophy which I will share. 

When using a bolt or bolts to attach something like an oil pan, I have always 
found it best to use a bolt or bolts that are long enough to contact the FULL 
LENGTH of the hole threads. In this way you are spreading the forces across 
the full length of the hole and are not concentrating pressures in just a few 
of the threads. No, I don't recommended overtorquing.

Why do I bring this up now? Well, if you will check, you will find that some 
of the stock factory pan bolts are only half as long as the threaded holes. 
This puts all of the torquing force on a small number of threads which will 
accelerate thread failure and pulled threads. So don't reuse those pan bolts, but 
get some longer ones and be sure you are spreading the force across all of the 
threads. This is important for aluminum which has a low yield strength.

Regards,
Bob Helt