Silicone trick stopped my diff cover from leaking

Oscar Jackson · 2026-03-06T12:00:50.070378+00:00

Applied it instead of a new gasket. No more drips on the trail.

My Land Cruiser's diff has been leak-free with silicone.

7

But what happens when you need to open that diff again? I've seen silicone turn into a rock hard, gummy mess that makes a clean teardown impossible, and you can end up damaging the sealing surfaces trying to scrape it all off. A proper gasket compresses and comes off clean.

6

henry386mo ago

That silicone trick can work in a pinch, but @shane_wilson has a real point about the cleanup. If you ever need to get back in there, a thin layer of the right stuff is key. I've had good luck with the black RTV, letting it skin over a bit before putting the cover on. Trying to peel off a thick bead of the clear stuff is a nightmare and can mess up the surface. A proper gasket is still the best way to go for an easy future job.

0