Hi,
This is my first post and wanted to know if anyone can help. Recently I purchased a 1993 SSEI Bonneville sombody sold to me for 1500. It just had two minor problems, It idled erratically and white smoke came out the exhaust at startup. I fixed the idling problem, by reading posts on these forums, the TPS sensor needed to be calibrated. Now for the smoke it was leaking very little coolant in the throttle body so I took it of, cleaned all the buildup and when I was going to put it back the gasket didn't fit. I was about an 1/2 inch too small on the throttle intake. The intake on my car is 2 3/4 in. in diameter, the one on the gasket is 2 3/8. I bought the gasket at the dealer then I went to buy another at NAPA and they were the same. I could cut the gasket to the intake size but still the holes for the bolts won't line up to the coolant part of the gasket. What also seems strange to me is that when I took the throttle off it had a cardboard/paper gasket, not a plastic gasket like they sold me. I also want to know if it would be safe to use RTV sealant around the throttle instead of the gasket? Maybe sombody here knows why it won't fit my throttle and can help me out. I would really appreciate it a lot.

Well lets see you had a nasty cork gasket on your TB before you took it off... I say if you cant find agasket whats better then rtv... the red **** should work perfect. Uhmm I do have some experiance with this . I have a 302 on my truck and I used all rtv for the gasket no leaks no problems but uhmm make sure you dont get any in the coolant passages that would be trouble for cooling. If you havent used it before use as much as you can but not too much. Good luck!?! Im sure it will work. Or if you want just put the old one in and rtv the **** out of it.

If I were you I'd figure what engine or TB you have in the car that makes the right gasket the wrong part. Once you figure that out you should be able to get the right gasket.

Silicon can work for some things for a while but I try to use it as little as possible. If I get good direct fit gaskets I forget the silicone. On a intake system I really would not want to use it. I would get out a piece of gasket material and cut a gasket if I couldnt get the right one.

Silicon is for farm tractors and quick fix mechanics. Biggest problem is everyone puts it on to thick. You only need a evenly spred thin film but you still need a gasket.

Get the right gasket. Make a fair pattern from the TB and take it with you

On the Clubgp site they go back and forth about RTV and simliar stuff, and it'* effects on the O2 sensor and other sensors. They say if you use it, you need to use minimal amount, and let it sit overnight to be sure it'* dried and set.
But I agree that the best solution would be to get the correct gasket. The dealer wouldn't charge too much for this. I'd go to them.

I agree with Steve on this one although RTV works well and if applied properly it can work great I would make a gasket and the material choices are many so go to Napa again and explain they will help you. If you arte able to bring the TB it will be easier. I am guessing the car ahs a different part than original or specified. I would also take the TB to the dealer and se what they say.

Ty

plus silicone does serious brain damage wew ! I've used plenty on my equipment, large castings and stuff. For the fine automotive stuff it shouldnt be necessary. Thermostate housing or something like that, maybe.

It seems to me that you just might have a "different" TB on there than what you should have? This might explain why the gasket doesn't match up. Does the TB base itself perfectly match the the Upper Intake Manifold? Do ALL the holes line up together? f not, then there is your problem....

Ok, DO NOT use standard RTV in any application where it may come in contact with gasoline, This includes the red stuff. They make a blue rtv for gasoline applications, use that. The red rtv is a high temperature product, but is not resistant to the chemicals in gasoline (it is good for temperatures up to 700 degrees according to manufacturer, I have never had any luck at those temperatures, more like 500). They also make a copper colored (looks metallic) good for higher temps so they say, but I have not used it. Also when you apply it do it in 3 steps, apply and install the piece but do not tighten it to any degree, let the silicone set up for about an hour, then tighten the fitting up, otherwise you squeeze all the sealant out of the joint. Also the smell is just vinegar, they use it as an inhibitor to keep the silicone from setting up in the tube, with varing degrees of sucess.