Originally posted by Jafro
Don't goop both sides of the gasket. Let the gasket do its job. One side should be lightly gooped, the other side needs to stay clean. I think one side has ridges, leave that one clean.
The gasket can only go on one way. The groove must stay clean. Your brother is right. Follow his advice or you'll blow that sucker out in no time flat.
I'm not familiar with o-rings on any non-turbo oil pan gaskets. I have Viton O-rings on my stainless steel turbo oil return line on my GSX, but that's not the kind of oil pan gasket you're talking about, and also not an OEM part.