Cure Times

While all RTV manufacturers recommend cure times exceeding practical service capabilities, the RTV recommended for Saturn engine applications requires an initial cure time of 15 minutes after bolts are torqued which allows for skin-over of the material. This should be followed by an engine warm-up of 15 minutes. During this 15 minute run, the parts should be inspected for leaks. This should be followed by a shut down of approximately 45 minutes before the engine is operated under normal conditions. The initial skin-over allows for a set of the RTV to prevent liquid lubrication systems from leaking and the warm-up provides heat in order to accelerate the curing process. The 45 minutes soak period allows a thicker skin build-up in areas of excess RTV bead thickness and further reduces the chance of any of the excess falling off. The longer the soak the better and overnight curing is recommended when possible.