Transmission pan & RTV gasket

Yes, unless the sealant has failed. This is a great way to get a transmission fluid bath.

Here is what you do.

Jack the van up into God's ass. Remove all pan bolts.

Get a HUGE pan to catch the fluid, put it under the trans.

Put a big crowbar under the front corner of the pan.

Put a floor jack under the other end of the crowbar. Start slowly jacking up the jack, this will gradually increase the prying pressure.

If your lucky the pan will start to detach at the corner, if so, immediately let off the jack a bit until all the fluid has poured out.

If your not lucky the pan will fight you, the pressure will get higher and higher until with a sudden CLANG the pan will come flying off and a gallon or so of transmission fluid will come dumping out. If you are under it you will get a fluid shower, that is why you do not want to be under it, you want the floor jack to be under it.

While you have the pan off, take it to a trans shop and they drill a hole in the bottom and weld a nut and washer to the inside of the hole and insert an allen-head screw into the nut from the outside, instant drain plug.

If the sealing area of the trans is damaged (gouged or whatever) the gasket will not work. Otherwise it will work fine and no sealant is required.

Ted