POS Fram cork gasket was literally disintegrating!



Here's a question...my new Purelator filter came with a cork gasket, should I use that or sealant? I've got some Permatex...but the pan has a little ribbed edge that looks like it's made for cork. The writeups I've seen for 3rd gen all say sealant, no cork. Is 2nd gen different?

 

Put a little bit of sealant on both sides of the cork gasket. It should seal it just fine

 

I guess it's better to have both...

 

The sealant will help the cork gasket stay in place when installing so you make sure it doesnt move.

How long did that Fram cork work for?

 

Not sure, I just got the truck about 3 weeks ago. The PO said the ATF was serviced "recently", but I noticed a leak the other day and the fluid was brown, so I decided to change it. I'll never buy Fram...

 

Brown fluid must have been in there for awhile then. Does the fluid smell burnt, or is just old?

 

It smelled pretty burnt...I was real worried at first, but didn't find any metal shavings in the pan and the tranny wasn't slipping, so I hope I'm ok.

 

Toyota uses FIPG (form in place gasket) on the oil/trans pans, not cork. Pans that are suppose to use cork will have little spacers to prevent the cork from being crushed too much.

Here's one from a 95 Taurus tranny.

 

Fram, Purolator, all that aftermarket stuff performs the same.

Saying you won't buy Fram is silly, because that Purolator gasket will leak the exact same way. Covering it in goop isn't the proper way to do it. It managed to last many years from the factory without ever leaking, so thats what I would go back to. Find out from the dealer if its supposed to be FIPG or a gasket.

Toyota generally uses raised ridges on pans that use a gasket, and indented ridges on pans that use FIPG

 

Well, not that you can believe anyone anymore...but the PO told me the transmission was "serviced" about a year ago. If that cork looks like that after a year, I don't wanna use that product again. Call me silly. Thanks for the info everyone...I ended up just using the Permatex. Hope it doesn't leak.