# Stop gasket oil leak externally

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/stop-gasket-oil-leak-externally/107200>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [August 24, 2017, 5:34pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/stop-gasket-oil-leak-externally/107200 "2017-08-24T17:34:21Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Jake\_of\_All\_Trades](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/eada6e/32.png) [@Jake\_of\_All\_Trades](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Jake_of_All_Trades)\
**Post date:** [August 24, 2017, 5:34pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/stop-gasket-oil-leak-externally/107200/1 "2017-08-24T17:34:21Z")

</div>

Paper gasket, on bottom of ATV aluminum block engine, drips oil in one small spot. Can this leak be stopped by external means?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\
**Post date:** [August 24, 2017, 7:15pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/stop-gasket-oil-leak-externally/107200/2 "2017-08-24T19:15:28Z")

</div>

Generally, No

You could try some RTV after cleaning the outside of the area extremely well and letting it sit overnight before riding it again. But don’t be surprised when the leak returns.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![oldtimer-11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e79b87/32.png) [@oldtimer-11](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldtimer-11)\
**Post date:** [August 24, 2017, 7:20pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/stop-gasket-oil-leak-externally/107200/3 "2017-08-24T19:20:33Z")

</div>

If you can find the torque specs you can loosen all the bolts say 1/4 turn and re-torquing them in the proper sequence.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\
**Post date:** [August 24, 2017, 10:30pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/stop-gasket-oil-leak-externally/107200/4 "2017-08-24T22:30:32Z")

</div>

A problem with applying something like RTV to the outside is that the pressure from the inside will tend to push the plug out, and the bubble behind the patch will fill with oil. That oil will eventually work its way out. You could keep patching with RTV, but your best bet is to replace the gasket.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\
**Post date:** [August 25, 2017, 11:14pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/stop-gasket-oil-leak-externally/107200/5 "2017-08-25T23:14:31Z")

</div>

If you are out in the woods and no way to buy a gasket, you might could try making one out of a cardboard cereal box. Trace it out, cut it with scissors. Might work.