GE Dishwasher PDW8280N20SS gasket channel caulk

[BobNJ]

A few days ago, the corner of the gasket that goes around the sides and top of the door frame came out of the channel when the door was opened.  I decided to order a new one since there were several nicks in it.  When I took the old gasket completely out, I saw what looks like clear silicon caulk in the channel at the bottom of the two side of the door frame and in the top corners.  I checked all the videos and gasket advice I could find and did not see anything about applying caulk.  I concluded a previous homeowner or repair person had applied the caulk to keep the gasket in place.  It looked to me like the caulk would actually keep the gasket from sitting securely in the channel so I removed most of it.

Eventually, I discovered that just below the channel corners and near the left and right bottom of the channel, there is a gap in the back of the channel that would expose the back of the gasket to the wash water during a cleaning cycle.  Now I am wondering if the caulk was there to keep wash water from slipping behind the gasket which might make it more likely the gasket would constantly slip out of the channel.

Can anyone shed some light on this?  Should that caulk be there?  And if so, what should I get to replace the caulk I have already taken out?

Thanks.

[Bluebayou]

I have never seen that, but my old (OLD, I mean) GE dishwasher has silicon or rubber inserts at the bottom of the door to make a better seal, so it seems reasonable.

You should use a silicon caulk that is labelled "NSF" for being food safe if you choose to recaulk it.  
 

[BobNJ]

I guess I will recaulk the gaps to eliminate the chance of water seeping between the gasket and channel.