Transmission pan & RTV gasket

Purchased a transmission filter kit
for my 2006 Dodge caravan 3.3L from NAPA.
Kit has , filter, O ring and rubber
transmission pan gasket. This will be
first filter and fluid change on vehicle.

As I understand it, as the vehicle now
stands the transmission pan gasket does
not have a rubber gasket but Mopar ATF RTV
MS-GF41 ( silicon? )
Will I have any known problems getting
the pan off with this RTV?

The manual tells you to put a 1/8 inch bead
of the above on the Transmission pan when
replacing it. It also says put this RTV under
the bolt heads.
I want to use the rubber pan gasket that came
with the kit.

Is there a preference between a rubber gasket
and RTV?

Thank you in advance
Denny B

 

Yes, unless the sealant has failed. This is a
great way to get a transmission fluid bath.

Here is what you do.

Jack the van up into God's ass. Remove
all pan bolts.

Get a HUGE pan to catch the fluid, put it
under the trans.

Put a big crowbar under the front corner
of the pan.

Put a floor jack under the other end of the
crowbar. Start slowly jacking up the jack,
this will gradually increase the prying pressure.

If your lucky the pan will start to detach at the
corner, if so, immediately let off the jack a
bit until all the fluid has poured out.

If your not lucky the pan will fight you, the
pressure will get higher and higher until with
a sudden CLANG the pan will come flying off
and a gallon or so of transmission fluid will
come dumping out. If you are under it you
will get a fluid shower, that is why you do
not want to be under it, you want the floor jack
to be under it.

While you have the pan off, take it to a trans
shop and they drill a hole in the bottom and
weld a nut and washer to the inside of the hole
and insert an allen-head screw into the nut
from the outside, instant drain plug.

If the sealing area of the trans is damaged (gouged
or whatever) the gasket will not work. Otherwise it
will work fine and no sealant is required.

Ted