Strange place for RTV...

[RTicUL8]

I'm replacing the front main seal on my '99 WJ 4.7L
I've done this on my XJ before.
However, I noticed something that I didn't see on my XJ.
After I removed the "crankshaft pulley/harmonic balancer/big wheel(what my wife called it)," I saw a thin coat of gray RTV inside.
It was molded into a ring-shape about 1/2 way up (where I have the screwdriver pointed).
The back 1/2 has dried RTV smeared all over it.
The front 1/2 is completely dry (no RTV)

It was on there tight - but probably only the front 1/2 was making contact.

My question - do you think I should put a new coat of RTV on when I re-install it?
I have the FSM, and it does not say anything about using RTV.

Anyone seen this before?

 

[YELLAHEEP]

The fact that there's ANY RTV inside there suggests a fairly good sized gap. I'm thinking they do that to keep a small amount of oil from leaking past. I imagine the keyway is the primary path for oil to leak from since the rest is press-fit, but I suppose getting any oil in there could cause a slight leak. I don't imagine it'd be a problem to put RTV back on there again......:dunno:

 

[5-90]

It could also have been done for much the same reason I paint the crank snout with never-seez - so it won't seize on and it will come off easier when replacing it.

I somehow doubt it was factory (I've never seen a factory HD with RTV in...) but stranger things have happened. To me. Recently.

 

[RTicUL8]

"...but stranger things have happened. To me. Recently."

Agreed. You should of have used never-sneeze!

 

[5-90]

Agreed. You should of have used never-sneeze!

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