It's starting to make sense. I put a phone call into Dorman's tech line. "Jim" says that GM did away with the deep grooves for the pre-made silicone gasket in later model years. He says the Dorman pan has the updated design. So what I did is find the GM part number for a 2006 Buick Lucerne oil pan. They have one on eBay. Sure enough, there are no more deep grooves. It's flat.
I'd try to find out. On my old ECHO there was a similar groove in a pan but the FSM had you putting the RTV on the outside edge. I figured the groove was to capture a bit of the excess so it didn't end up in the pan.
I agree. Honda bond is junk, but it's used all over the Honda's. That just gives you more insight into the Honda brand itself.
Maybe not "tiny," but the right amount. The Dorman pan grooves are not continuous, so you want to connect by running your bead on the inside of each bolt hole. This may be slightly improper, but I would probably draw circles (in Hondabond) around each bolt hole. Again, TE Videos on YouTube to get the bead size and feel demo. He has a few oil pan vids. And again, I would give the old college try to getting and OE or direct equivalent pan and gasket.
I don't track with this sentiment at all. There is no insight to be had on Honda vehicles, which I have been buying since 1985, and driving hundreds of thousands of trouble-free miles. (on each vehicle!!!) Honda has changed the world with cars that are superbly reliable, quite easy to maintain, and have always been a little, or a lot more interesting than the (also excellent) Toyota products. I have owned many of them, and recommended the brand to everyone I know. I am including Acura's in this discussion. I am kinda driving Euro sleds right now, but there are a few Hondas in the driveway and I expect I will go back to Hondas when I grow up a little bit.I agree. Honda bond is junk, but it's used all over the Honda's. That just gives you more insight into the Honda brand itself.
