When I was taking my engine apart it seemed like almost every part I took off had silicone on it as well as a gasket. I'm starting the reassembly and browsing through the FSM the only place I'm seeing to use gasket maker is the oil pan. Did the PO just go overboard with the stuff or are there certain areas it is recommended?

 

We all have our own ways of doing things.

I have used it at times every place but on Head gaskets .

Then I use Prematex #2 on exhaust gaskets.

If you just want to use it on the oil pan it is your choice

 

The guys who write the FSM do this for a living. "OVER"-doing it (using RTV in addition to gaskets) probably works most of the time. But not all of the time.

As you browse the FSM you will find plenty of places where RTV (or equivalent) really is required. There is no gasket for the upper water connector (engine end of upper hose), you must use RTV. There are instructions for using a little RTV on the valve cover gasket; you ignore that advice at your peril.

 

Then remember these FSM`s are as old as your vehicle things change after 20 plus years

If a service manual has been up dated I have never seen it.

I suppose the person who messed up the Head Gasket torque was having a bad day.

 

I used Permatex Ultra Grey on the half moons that sits on the head and in the corners where the valve cover will touch the flats of the half moons like it shows in the FSM. What ever the FSM says "Seal Packing" that's where I put Ultra Grey (UG). For the oil pan, I used actual Toyota FIPG just because. I could have gone with UG like the previous poster said since it's been 23 years + since the FSM was written the technologies in RTV advanced so much.