I hate it when people get carried away with the silicon, GEZZZZZ that makes me ANAL!!!!!!! A thin coat around the water jackets on the intake and on the end gaps on the intake and a dap on the corners of the oil pan.
Some people have that stuff all over the engine ozzing out at every gasket surface on the motor, Ive seen oil pump pick ups competely stopped up with this junk. And whats the deal with them putting it on header gaskets??? Like its gonna help seal up a warped header flange Cmon....
I'm with Brain on this one, dont really think it's gonna make a penny's worth of difference in performance, but scraping it off will definetly make you feel like it does, so go for it. Cp