File in Section:
Bulletin No.:

Service Bulletin

Date:

06 - Engine
12-06-01-003A
December, 2013

INFORMATION
Subject:

Information for Repairing Engine Front Cover Oil Leak, Sealing Surfaces Preparation,
Applying Room Temperature Vulcanizing (RTV) Sealant

Models:

2006-2014 GM Cars and Trucks (Including Export Vehicles)
Equipped with V6 Engine – RPO LAU, LF1, LFW, LFX, LLT, LP1, LY7 or LF3
This bulletin has been revised to add Model years and an engine RPO.
Please discard Corporate Bulletin Number 12-06-01-003.

Abrasive Pads - Bristle Discs - Surface
Conditioning Discs - Wire Wheels

2833722

Notice: DO NOT use bristle discs (1), abrasive
pads (2), wire wheels (3) or surface conditioning
discs to clean the sealing surfaces of engine
components.
Abrasive pads and bristle discs are embedded with
abrasive material. The bristle discs wear down as
they clean, continually exposing fresh abrasive to
the surface of the component. These types of
devices should not be used because they produce

Copyright 2013 General Motors LLC. All Rights Reserved.

a very fine grit that the oil filter is unable to remove
from the oil. THIS GRIT IS ABRASIVE AND IS
KNOWN TO CAUSE INTERNAL ENGINE DAMAGE.
• Abrasive pads, wire wheels and bristle discs can
remove enough metal to affect the engine front
cover, cylinder head, engine block, oil pan rail,
and intake manifold runner surface flatness, which
can then result in engine coolant leaks, engine oil
leaks and air leaks. It takes about 15 seconds to
remove 0.203 mm (0.008 in) of metal with an
abrasive pad.
• Abrasive pads, wire wheels and bristle discs used
with high speed grinders produce airborne debris
that can travel throughout the shop contaminating
other work being performed outside of the
immediate work area.
• When cleaning engine gasket sealing surfaces
and/or cleaning parts from an engine that are to be
reused, surface conditioning discs, typically
constructed of woven fiber or molded bristles that
contain abrasives, such as a high amount of
Aluminum Oxide, should also NOT be used. The
use of such surface conditioning discs dislodges
Aluminum Oxide from the disk and metal
component particles, which can lead to premature
engine bearing failure. The presence of Aluminum
Oxide in engine oil has been shown to cause
premature engine bearing failure. In some cases,
this failure occurs in as little as 1,600 km (1,000
mi) or less after the repair has been made.
• Surface conditioning discs may grind the
component material and embed it into the disc.
This can result when more aggressive grinding of
the gasket surface takes place.

Page 2

December, 2013

Bulletin No.: 12-06-01-003A

Separating Components That Use
Room Temperature Vulcanizing (RTV)
Sealant

2832454

2834479

•
•
•

Use the incorporated pry points to separate the
engine front cover from the engine block.
The pry points are positioned so other vital engine
components are not damaged when the pry points
are used.
Do not try to separate RTV sealed components by
prying against other engine components.

Recommended Cleaning Devices and
Method for Removing and Applying
RTV Sealant
General Motors strongly recommends using a plastic
razor blade, plastic gasket scraper, a wood scraper or a
non-metallic scraper to remove all sealer/gasket
material on the surface of engine components that are
to be reused. Do not use any other method or
technique to remove the sealant or the gasket material
from a part.
• Do not gouge or scratch any engine sealing
surface during the cleaning process.
• It is not necessary to remove every speck of the
old sealer. The appearance of the gasket sealing
surface is not critical — the feel is.
• To remove the old RTV sealant from the sealing
surface, spray GM Low VOC Cleaner, P/N
19287401 (in Canada, P/N 88901247) or an
equivalent, on the mating surfaces and allow it to
soak in for 5 minutes to loosen the old gasket
material. Use care to avoid getting GM Low VOC
Cleaner in any area other than the mating surface
to be cleaned.

2833177

•

Use a plastic razor blade (1), that mounts in a
scraper device or a hand held plastic razor blade
(2), to remove old RTV sealant from a sealing
surface. Use a new blade for each corresponding
engine component surface. Hold the blade as
parallel to the flat surface as possible.

Bulletin No.: 12-06-01-003A

December, 2013
•

•

Page 3

To properly clean the sealing surfaces prior to
reassembly, spray GM Low VOC Cleaner, on a
folded lint free shop cloth. Wipe the mating
surfaces on the engine and front cover and rotate
the shop cloth until there are no more visible signs
of contamination on the cloth.
After the final cleaning of the parts, allow
5 minutes for the components to dry before
applying new RTV sealant.

2834507

•

Position and work the blade back and forth in the
grooved areas of the component to loosen and
remove the old RTV.

2833110

•

Use a Tube Grip® dispensing device (1) or an
equivalent to apply the new RTV sealant for the
following reasons:
– A precise application of the RTV sealant bead to
the component, in the specified amount.
– The dispensing device will squeeze 35 % more
material out of the tube, reducing waste.
– Using the device will eliminate most cleanup.

Engine Front Cover - Removal - Surface
Preparation - Removing and Applying
RTV Sealant - Installation
2832527

•

When using a plastic gasket scraper with a
straight blade (1) to remove old RTV sealant from
a sealing surface, hold the scraper as parallel to
the flat surface as possible.
Use a plastic gasket scraper with an angle blade
(2) and work the blade back and forth in the
grooved areas of the component to loosen and
remove the old RTV.
• Clean the engine front cover in solvent.
• Dry the engine front cover with compressed air.
Notice: After the final cleaning with GM Low VOC
Cleaner and before reassembly, DO NOT touch the
cleaned surfaces with your hand. Oils from your
skin WILL CONTAMINATE the surface and prevent
proper bonding of the new RTV sealant.

1. Drain the engine coolant. Refer to Cooling System
Draining and Filling in SI.
Notice: It is critical that this Step is performed as
outlined in order to reduce the possibility of the
REMAINING engine coolant entering the oil pan
when the front cover is being removed.
2. Position a suitable container under the water pump
to collect any remaining engine coolant.
Remove the water pump. Refer to Water Pump
Removal in SI.
3. Remove the engine front cover. Refer to Engine
Front Cover Replacement in SI.

Page 4

December, 2013

2833996

4. Insert a piece of cardboard at the front of the oil
pan in the area shown to prevent any contaminants
and debris from falling into the oil pan.

2834020

5. Using the tool or tools as outlined in this bulletin,
carefully clean the front cover sealing surfaces on
the engine.
6. Clean out any debris from the bolt holes for the
front cover fasteners in the engine.

Bulletin No.: 12-06-01-003A

2834570

7. Clean out any debris from the T-joint (1) where the
left side of the cylinder head meets the engine
block.

2834612

8. Clean out any debris from the T-joint (2) where the
right side of the cylinder head meets the engine
block.

Bulletin No.: 12-06-01-003A

December, 2013

2834622

9. Clean out any debris from the T-joint (2) where the
left side of the oil pan meets the engine block.

2834622

10. Clean out any debris from the T-joint (1) where the
right side of the oil pan meets the engine block.
11. Spray GM Low VOC Cleaner, P/N 19287401 (in
Canada, P/N 88901247) or an equivalent, on the
mating surfaces of the engine side for the front
cover and allow it to soak in for 5 minutes.

Page 5

2834020

12. Wipe the front cover mating surfaces on the
engine with a folded lint free shop cloth. Rotate the
shop cloth until there are no more visible signs of
contamination on the cloth.
13. Spray GM Low VOC Cleaner, or an equivalent, on
the mating surfaces of the front cover and allow it
to soak in for 5 minutes.

Page 6

December, 2013

Bulletin No.: 12-06-01-003A

2834958

14. Carefully clean the front cover sealing surfaces
and grooves.
15. Clean out any debris from the bolt holes for the
front cover fasteners.
16. Drain and wipe the remaining oil from the front
cover.
17. Dry the front cover with compressed air.

1408425

18. Inspect the exterior of the front cover for the
following conditions:
• Damage to the camshaft position actuator valve
oil seal bores (1).
• Damage to any bolt holes (2).
• Damage and/or corrosion to the engine coolant
passage (3).
• Dents or damage to the exterior (4).
• Damage to the crankshaft front oil seal bore (5).
• Gouges or damage to the water pump sealing
surfaces (6).
• Damage to the water pump bolt hole
threads (7).
⇒ If any of the above conditions are found, repair
or replace the front cover as necessary.

Bulletin No.: 12-06-01-003A

December, 2013

Page 7

2835832
1408427

19. Inspect the interior of the front cover for the
following conditions:
• Damage to any bolt holes (1).
• Gouges or damage to the cover sealing
surfaces to the engine block (7), oil pan (5) and
camshaft covers (2).
• Gouges or damage to the water pump seal
area (3).
• Loose or damaged deadener plates (4).
• Damage and/or corrosion to the engine coolant
passage (6).
• Damage to the crankshaft front oil seal bore.
• Gouges or damage to the O-ring sealing areas.
⇒ If any of the above conditions are found, repair
or replace the front cover as necessary.

Notice: Wear Gloves. After the final cleaning with
GM Low VOC Cleaner and before reassembly, DO
NOT touch the cleaned surfaces with your bare
hand. The oils from your skin WILL CONTAMINATE
the surfaces and prevent proper bonding of the new
RTV sealant.
20. Clean the sealing surface prior to reassembly by
spraying GM Low VOC Cleaner, on a folded lint
free shop cloth. Wipe the mating surfaces and
rotate the shop cloth until there are no more visible
signs of contamination on the cloth.
21. After the final cleaning of the parts, allow 5 minutes
for the components to dry before applying new
RTV sealant.
22. Remove the cardboard from the front of the oil pan.

Page 8

December, 2013

Bulletin No.: 12-06-01-003A

2834933

Notice: THIS STEP IS CRITICAL.
Oil leaks at the T-joints are one of the most common
conditions encountered.
23. Apply a 5 mm bead of RTV sealant to the T-joints
on the front cover in order to ensure that there is
enough sealant to extend into the joint.

Bulletin No.: 12-06-01-003A

December, 2013

Page 9

2835399

24. Apply a 3 mm bead of RTV sealant to the
remaining front cover sealing surfaces.

Page 10

December, 2013

Bulletin No.: 12-06-01-003A

2835122

25. This is a typical view of the proper application of
the RTV sealant to the front cover, with a 5 mm
bead of RTV sealant to the T-joints (1, 2, 3, 4) and
a 3 mm bead of RTV sealant to the rest of the
sealing surfaces.
Notice: The front cover must be installed BEFORE
the RTV sealant is allowed to “skin over” or the
sealant will not adhere.
26. Install the front cover to the engine. Refer to
Engine Front Cover Replacement in SI.

27. Install the water pump. Refer to Water Pump
Installation in SI.
28. Complete the repair. Refer to Engine Front Cover
Replacement in SI.
Snap-On is a Registered Trademark of Snap-On
Incorporated
Tube Grip is a Registered Trademark of Valco
Cincinnati Inc.
MaxiFlex is a Trademark of ATG Ceylon (PVT)
Limited

GM bulletins are intended for use by professional technicians, NOT a "do-it-yourselfer". They are written to inform these
technicians of conditions that may occur on some vehicles, or to provide information that could assist in the proper
service of a vehicle. Properly trained technicians have the equipment, tools, safety instructions, and know-how to do a
job properly and safely. If a condition is described, DO NOT assume that the bulletin applies to your vehicle, or that your
vehicle will have that condition. See your GM dealer for information on whether your vehicle may benefit from the
information.

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