Is it really needed? That is the RTV on the W/P gaskets?

I used RTV last time I did the water pump and found slivers every time I took the rad cap off. Haynes manual say use RTV but I can't see a real reason why?

 

where the waterpump mounts to the waterpump housing?

mine is equipped with a gasket alone and is leak free.

 

Well, both the W/p housing-to-engine gasket and W/p itself gasket. I just didn't want to put it all together without RTV and have a leaking problem.

 

Unless the metal is seriously eaten away, a gasket alone will be just fine in both cases.

 

Thats what I was hoping to hear. I thought Haynes manual may be aware of something I i didnt know