Check out this blown-out oil pan gasket. Why?

[Stanger007]

On my recently purchased stang, the previous engine builder used a TON of silicon/rtv in sealing up the gaskets. Had an oil leak recently so I changed the valve covers, checked/replaced the PCV and grommet, check rear of the intake and then jacked up the car and here's what I found.

What would make the gasket blow out like this? overtightening? too much rtv? magic? The flyweel looks bone dry (see pics) and as I said earlier, the top of the engine doesn't appear to be leaking, so can I assume it's not the rear main?

Edit: Torqued the oil pan bolts down more until I am able to change the gasket. The 1/2" bolt at the rear main was barely tightened.

 

[Rick 91GT]

Is a gasket there or is it just silicone....

 

[Stanger007]

There *is* a gasket there somewhere in that silicone. I swear I saw one somewhere.

 

[RYC CUKR]

i'd say he used too much rtv and really overtightened it. I mean really overtightened it.

 

[cardudeusa]

Definatley looks overtightned!!!

 

[swiller of beer]

Some RTV's will eat through rubber gaskets, and that looks like what happened... Rubber oil pan gaskets need to be installed dry, anyways....

 

[Stanger007]

I'm not sure what kind of gasket it is - it's cork in the front, but in the pics, you can see black which looks like a rubber one. Hmm. Oh well. Getting ready to try the oilpan gasket swap in-car. Anyone clocked how long it took them to do it?