I'm finishing-up a timing chain swap on my 2.8L V6, and I had to use a lot of RTV (and other sealants) on the between the oil pan gasket and the timing cover.

The tube says that it takes up to 24 hours for a full setup. I really wanted to test-out this new timing chain tonight (old one had more than an inch of play), but I can live without that if I have to. I will, however, need to get to school tomorrow morning.

Should I avoid turning on my engine until the RTV has had 24 hours to get fully set, or can I get away with using it earlier?

Thanks

 

RTV requires heat & humidity to setup. From personal experience the use of steam will cause RTV to cure in seconds.

When used in cool dry weather is can take days/weeks to cure. The tinner/wider the section of RTV the longer it takes. As for myself I don't use RTV on engines at all. It just doesn't work.

RBob.

 

Hmm... it needs heat as in engine heat to set up?

I really just want to run it long enough to fill my coolant system up so that I don't have to mess with that in the morning before I have to go to school. But, if that means that I'm going to risk breaking my oil pan seal, then I don't want to do that...