it lubricates the gasket and allows it to squirt out from the thing its suposed to be sealing. if you have smooth straight gasket surfaces and you use proper tourque on the fasteners you shouldnt need any gasket sealer. if you dont have smooth straight surfaces, then you have other problems to fix besides the gasket.

 

The gaskets surfaces are flat as can be. No scratches or anything. I think I got it now though. I started another thread on it.

 

Hello there
I have the same problem, what di you ever find to fix this problem, I have tried everything to reseal this including new seals, new seal with silicon, no seal and only silicon, new oil cooler head, now I have the engine out and going to replace the $400 timing cover that I do not see a thing wrong with it and it true and flat but I am totally stumped. I have worked on this engine since 1994 when it fist came out in the International trucks and have never had so much trouble with an oil leak. It started as 5 or 10 drips when first colds and has progressed worse and worse. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks Ken 775-750-5078

 

he had a microfracture in the main cooling housing that was not easily detectable.