Gasket Material for Cooling System

Some time back I created a thread on oil pan gasket material that landed me on the use of Nissan Grey part number: 999MP-1217HP. That seemed to be what Nissan is currently using, instead of the part number called for in the 2000 FSM for the Xterra (VG33E): 999MP-A7007. Here is that thread: https://z31performance.com/forum/z31…on-for-oil-pan

Now, I'm looking for the RTV used with water pumps and thermostats (though I'm intending to try a formed gasket that came with my Aisin water pump). I found this same trail of confusion looking over all the various years of the FSM's and following "…or equivalent" materials referred to in the after market.

What are you guys using for cooling system gasket material?

Here is what I uncovered…
2000, 2001 FSM refer to gasket material for the water pump as: 999MP-A7007 (either a misprint in the first place, or the reason why a lot of these leaked. This is typically an oil product). There is NO mention on what to use for the thermostat here.

2002 FSM refers to material for the water pump AND thermostat, calling for for "Genuine Silicone RTV or equivalent" and refers you to page GI-50 in the the General Information (GI) section of the FSM. on GI-50, it suggests "999MP-AM003P (Ultra Grey) (in the USA) or cross-reference to after markets with: Permatex Ultra Grey 82194 (this is the high torque ultra grey), Threebond 1207 and 1216, or Nissan RTV 999-MP-A7007

2003, 2004 FSM doesn't bother to tell you about installing the water pump (just says it's the reverse of removal! Nissan is so lazy. . It does refer to gasket material for the thermostat and calls for "Genuine Anaerobic Liquid Gasket or equivalent" and refers you to page GI-42 in the the General Information (GI) section of the FSM. There, it suggests the anaerobic options that are different from the Silicone RTV it called for in the two previous years. It calls for Nissan P/N: 999MP-AM001P or Permatex 51813 and 51817 (same product, just a different size tube). Ironically, it also suggests use of the original 999MP-A7007 (which is likely not anaerobic).

What's interesting is how these various products are described by Permatex (chemically):
The anaerobic product listed in the 2003, 2004 FSM (Nissan 999MP-AM001P, Permatex 51813) says:
"medium strength, thixotropic, anaerobic sealant that cures rapidly. The product cures when confined in the absence of air between close fitting aluminum surfaces. It provides a tough, resilient, solvent and temperature resistant seal that flexes with flange movement caused by vibration, pressurization or thermal changes.

PRODUCT BENEFITS
• No mixing
• No curing outside of joint
• Non-corrosive to aluminum or cast iron parts

The Silicon RTV product listed in the 2003, 2004 FSM (Nissan 999MP-AM003P, Permatex 82194) says:
This material cures on exposure to moisture in the air to form a tough, flexible, silicone rubber gasket. The product resists aging, weathering and thermal cycling without hardening, shrinking or cracking. Designed to perform under the higher load conditions of engines with closely spaced bolt patterns, and maintains outstanding oil, water-glycol resistance.

So, in the end…what is the best product to use? The RTV Silicon or the Anaerobic Gasket Material? Perhaps they both will work well for the original job (coolant system), but one dries more rapidly and is better for the "repair" environment, vs the build environment (where there is amply time to allow the material to cure).

Thoughts?