Timing cover sealant fail

[many_methods]

I spent hours meticulously cleaning the timing cover and the corresponding mating surface on my car's engine, scraping off the old gasket sealant and then cleaning it up with brake cleaner and clean tissue/rag. Left it to dry turn followed the instructions on the instant gasket sealant (Granville instant gasket RTV type) and left it overnight to go off. However, since putting the car back together I now appear to have a leak down one side where the seal has failed so it's looking like I'm gonna have to start over... My issue is that I don't know what I'd do differently next time. Any tips? Or recommendations on alternative sealant? Note there is no physical gasket, the sealant is the only thing used between the two surfaces. This is for a Nissan 1.2 dig t engine FWIW. Thanks

 

[Blobber]

I think you would be better off with an anaerobic sealer rather than the silicone RTV stuff?

 

[Keithmac]

Buy a tube of this, not cheap but I only use this on engine rebuilds that would require 10+ hours to rectify..

 

[jsf55]

Finger tighten the bolts/screws and fully tighten when it's cured/following morning, we always practiced this with forklift sumps and never had a leaker

 

[dave h 2]

Incorrect tightening pattern - too tight as Jsf55 above or warped cover, which the proper tightening pattern might fix or maybe not. Could also be like a mk2 MR2 cam cover where the screws keep loosening.

 

[tom2207]

anaerobic and thread it ,,, I seldom get problems this way , its old school aviation tech ,,, but Im old school anyways.

 

[JOEPRO]

I use this stuff on diff covers and timing covers / sumps on my MBs. Never a single leak. Apply and hand tighten the bolts only. Then 1 hour later snug them up fully.

Pardon our interruption...

 

[many_methods]

Thanks guys. All responses very helpful