Eric -
As I recall, both the gaskets are identical.
I do believe those holes should be lined up - no Honda manual mentions this specifically, but I recall we always lined them up.
A judicious use of silicon was our friend on these gaskets - none close enough to that (or any) oil hole to get squeezed into it, but enough around the perimeter of the gasket to prevent leakage.
Silicon will also allow re-use of the gaskets almost indefinitely (except for the haed gasket, which should always be replaced as SOP).
I was personally never afraid of silicon, but I was (and still am) careful in its use. I have seen the results of using too much, and it can be disastrous.
Some guys swear that it's from the Devil - but I think it's benefits make it worthwhile.
Back in The Day, people used to use that horrible black/brown Permatex stuff that turns to epoxy once it gets hot - almost impossible to get the old gaskets off......
Many times you would spend all day scraping off old gaskets, and lose your shorts on a job that only paid two hours Flat Rate.
That's the way Honda used to work it - every imaginable task was outlined in the Flat Rate Manual, and was assigned a number of hours that Honda thought was appropriate. You multiplied the Flat Rate hours by the shop rate, that's what was charged. The mechanic usually got half, so you didn't want to have to screw around scraping gaskets for hours.
So we loved silicon, gaskets came right off.
Enough rambling - if someone has better knowledge of these particular gaskets on a 350, please illuminate us all.
As I recall, both the gaskets are identical.
I do believe those holes should be lined up - no Honda manual mentions this specifically, but I recall we always lined them up.
A judicious use of silicon was our friend on these gaskets - none close enough to that (or any) oil hole to get squeezed into it, but enough around the perimeter of the gasket to prevent leakage.
Silicon will also allow re-use of the gaskets almost indefinitely (except for the haed gasket, which should always be replaced as SOP).
I was personally never afraid of silicon, but I was (and still am) careful in its use. I have seen the results of using too much, and it can be disastrous.
Some guys swear that it's from the Devil - but I think it's benefits make it worthwhile.
Back in The Day, people used to use that horrible black/brown Permatex stuff that turns to epoxy once it gets hot - almost impossible to get the old gaskets off......
Many times you would spend all day scraping off old gaskets, and lose your shorts on a job that only paid two hours Flat Rate.
That's the way Honda used to work it - every imaginable task was outlined in the Flat Rate Manual, and was assigned a number of hours that Honda thought was appropriate. You multiplied the Flat Rate hours by the shop rate, that's what was charged. The mechanic usually got half, so you didn't want to have to screw around scraping gaskets for hours.
So we loved silicon, gaskets came right off.
Enough rambling - if someone has better knowledge of these particular gaskets on a 350, please illuminate us all.
