Tips from the gasket expert

Technical Service Information | TSI no. 16/2007 – Page 1 of 2

The problem:
Loss of oil after installing a new oil pan gasket?
Oil leaks on engines, transmissions, or assemblies are always an indication that the components as a whole no
longer function as designed. To ensure their functional capability, reliable sealing is absolutely essential.
Leaks can have many causes, e.g., improper assembly, component condition, or wear and deformation.

Areas to be sealed at which multiple components must be joined, e.g., oil pan, valve cover on the engine block, are
especially critical. These junctions are frequently subject to offset (protrusion), where leaks may occur. Special
care is therefore required when performing assembly work at these areas.

The solution:
Sealing the offset with Dirko® sealing compound
The Dirko® sealing compounds are ideally suited to compensate for this offset and ensure reliable sealing.
Important: In general, the areas must be cleaned of dirt, grease, and oils before applying the Dirko® sealing
compound.
Please remember not to apply too much of the sealing compound because otherwise it is transmitted to the inside
of the engine and might have an impact on its functionality.

For more details and our technical data and safety data sheets please visit www.elring.de.

®
Use of Dirko
sealing compounds
 Technical Service Information | TSI no. 16/2007 – Page 2 of 2

A practical example

In the following case, the oil pan gasket made of metal

elastomer was replaced in an engine. After a short time,
the customer complained about oil leakage. We
thoroughly inspected the gasket. No material or
production defect was found.

The real cause:

During assembly, the elastomer sealing ends of the
counterpart of the control cover gasket (this part was not
disassembled) were not inspected for their condition (see
picture). The compressed elastomer was no longer
elastic to sufficiently close the gap. As a result, an oil leak
developed in this area after only a short period of time.

Critical area
The valve cover was
removed for illustration
purposes.

Forms of supply:
Dirko® Dirko®HT
Temperature stability -50ºC to +180ºC Temperature stability -50ºC to +250ºC
Package with tube, long and short 70 ml 036.161 Package with tube, long and short conical 70 ml 705.705
conical nozzle, and tube key nozzle, and tube key
Cartridge, transparent 310 ml 216.917 Cartridge 310 ml 465.763
Cartridge, grey 310 ml 610.020 Dirko-S Profi Press HT
Temperature stability -50ºC to +250ºC
Dirko Spezial-Silikon, beige Pressurized aluminum spray can 200 ml 129.400
Temperature stability -50ºC to +180ºC

Aluminum tube with nozzle and tube key 70 ml 030.790

ElringKlinger AG | Aftermarket division

Max-Eyth-Straße 2 | D-72581 Dettingen/Erms
Phone +49 (0)71 23/724-799 | Fax +49 (0)71 23/724-798
elring@elring.de | www.elring.de