[suspectnumber961]

The auto trans on my car had the same thing...silicone was used to seal the pan on. I found a rubber gasket for it and can remove it when needed.

You might find an aftermarket gasket for your oil pan...or...make one from sheets of gasket material? The heavy paper type would work if you would glue it on the block using say the Permatex red non-hardening gasket goop...then cover the pan lip with a good layer of moly bearing grease....should be removable. Main thing is to not overtighten them...once the rim of the pan is bent...it's hard to get them to seal right again.

One other thing I do is add a strong neo magnet (1"x1/2"x2" approx) to the outside of the oil filter to help catch steel particles...probably the worst of the stuff causing extra friction? Also one on the outside of the pan near the drain opening?

The gummy sludge is probably best removed by using a flush between oil changes? I've also heard of people pouring a qt of kerosene thru the engine after draining the oil to help flush it.

Ideally...a synth oil drained every 3K would be best for mpg...but might get expensive? The multipass fine filtration might be less expensive on the longer run? Both might pay for themselves in fuel saved????