Where are you NOT using gaskets...

[ericwevans]

And where are you?  I recently learned that many of you are using no gaskets for exhaust, just hi temp silicone.  That got me asking, where else are you doing without.  Obviously head gaskets are required, and I am assuming that there is too much of a gap to go without on the intake.  But what about...

Oil pump
Oil filter adapter
Oil pan
Timing cover
Water pump
Fuel pump (mechanical)

Did I miss anything?  These seem like other prime candidates to go with just silicone, what are you guys doing?

[My427stang]

I use gaskets everywhere, except the exhaust manifolds.

[120mm]

I'm curious about this as well, as my experience is mainly with SBFs, where many forgo gaskets on intake manifold and use RTV or something like it.

[blykins]

You can do it on some things, not on others.

On some engines, you can put oil pans on without a gasket, just silicone.  Never tried it on an FE...never had a reason to. 

I never use end gaskets for intake manifolds, but always use silicone. 

Oil filter adapters are something that should have a gasket.  You don't want any sealant smooshing into an oil feed passage. 

[machoneman]

I'd never use silicone, etc. where a gasket could be used unless it was the exhaust gaskets with headers. Even then, I run soft copper gaskets there and Stage 8 locking SS bolts w/o any issues. Yes, the china walls alway get high temp silicone too but that's it.

Using silicone to coat gaskets in many places (water pump, t-stat, fuel pump, etc.) is something I do on occasion too. But having seen the disasters of fellows who use silicone like water, jamming up oil passages or leaving pieces behind after yanking say an intake....it's bad news inside any engine.     

[ericwevans]

Thanks for the input guys!  When I heard of using silicone on the exhaust that caught me off guard so was wondering if it was a better practice for everywhere, but it sounds like everyone is still using all of the rest of the gaskets except for the china wall.