Hey everybody. I'm nearing the end of my timing chain replacement. I'm down to reassembly. It's all down hill from here, right? Well unfortunately no, it's not that simple.

I'm ready to put my now-clean oil pan back on. I'll be stopping by the Toyota dealership tonight to get some Form In Place Gasket. But there's one problem. I can't get the old stuff off! A scraper handled the majority of it. And I've been working with a screwdriver and a fingernail on the stuff that's down in the grooves. But I just can't seem to get all of it that way. I tried carb cleaner, and it didn't cut it. I tried brake cleaner. It works great, but it went right through the paint too, so I quit that pretty quickly. I tried a brillo pad, but that doesn't do it either. I tried a wire brush, but that goes straight through the paint too (I'm not sure it was even getting the FIPG at the same time).

So what do I do? I know I can't be the first one to encounter this, so what tricks have you guys figured out? Do you just leave some of the stuff on there and put the new stuff on top of it? Do you use the brake cleaner and repaint the oil pan?

I just want this thing done so I can drive my truck again!

 

wire brush. technique I used all the time when i was a mechanic. The best ones are the ones you can put on the end of a drill and it just takes all that gasket material off will out maring the sealing surface.

 

^^^^x2

gasoline & wire brush.

 

x2 on the wire brush on the end of a cordless drill. Takes that stuff off quick style.

And, do not use too much when you put it back on. If you lay down a thick bead you will end up with a lot of extra in the oil pan, and it could clog your oil pickup.

 

x3 on wirebrush and gasoline.
works like a charm

 

X4 HAHA works great !!!

 

Never used gas...

lol!!

I used a 3M abrasive disk I picked up from Napa() in my cordless and some brake cleaner, maybe. Worked like butta!

 

So did the paint come off for you guys? When I tried with a hand wire brush or with brake cleaner, the paint started coming off.

Maybe I just have uncommonly poorly adhered paint.

 

I disagree; when that stuff dries, it will NEVER let go of the pan~

 

Wire brush on a bench grinder dealy. Took all of 5 mins
And use the toyota FIPG. I swear that stuff is sticky as hell!!!!

 

When I pulled mine apart for a rebuild (3VZE) 20% of the oil pickup was loaded with sealant.

I assume it was FIPG, but maybe someone had been in there before and loaded it up with RTV.

 

If you follow the FSM and put the goob where its supposed to go, you won't have a problem.

No need to use the whole tube on it lol!