what color silicone to use on timing cover and WP gaskets??

We had a guy come to our vocational school from one of the RTV companies and told us that the colors are all a gimmick. He said they all do the same thing and are all rated pretty much around the same temps.


I've always used the copper RTV...even on stuff that it says i'm not supposed to. I don't have any leaks and my thermostat housing has a piece of Coke 12 pack cardboard cut out as the gasket...

I use a tube of black silicone in a caulking gun to seal everything from exhaust gaskets to water pumps and transfer cases where I work. I've never had a problem.

When I do water pumps and timing covers, I smear a thin layer on the engine side, put the gasket on, then smear another thin layer of silicone on the gasket and put the water pump or timing cover on. This method has worked every time for me. I put silicone on damn near everything that could possibly leak because I hate doing things twice.

ultra grey usually for water contacting gaskets, as recommended by my old auto shop teacher..now i use ultra black because i got a deal on a couple tubes of it, which works great too..i however hate ultra copper, that stuff pretty much falls off! doesn't stick to anything for very long after it's dried in my experience

Did you use some sealant teflon on the threads of the timing cover.