I just bought a 94 excab toyota. The timing chain was replaced a month ago and it is leaking oil on the passenger side just above the oil pan. It looks as if someone just gobbed grey silicone all over it. I plan on fixing this as soon as possible. My question is this. What is the very best gaskets to use and how much of the silicone do you put on it to get a good seal.

If this has already been asked, I am sorry. I tried to do a search here and on google to no avail. Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

get oem toyota gaskets if you want the best and download the fsm for installing the timing cover. Also while picking up gaskets at the dealer go ahead and get the FIPG sealer for the job to do it right. Save yourself two trips.

 

As far as gaskets go, I used felpro. I think it was a kit which included a timing cover gasket, water pump gasket, & oil pump o-ring. If not buy them separately. You'll also need the fipg stuff for the oil pan but I just used silicon. Also make sure to use some type of sealent on the corners where the head mates to the block. Be careful not to damage the headgasket. And I think there is one bolt that will need sealant applied to the threads otherwise it will leak oil. It's in the fsm somewhere.
Oh yeah, I also used gasket sealer ( I think that's what it's called) just a thin layer to help keep the gasket in place and seal it up good. But I would recommend the spray can type. I think it was permatex copper spray.

Make sure to label where each bolt came out of!! This is important!! They are of different lengths and need to go back in the same place otherwise your chain tensioner might fail.(I read that ^ here on the forums, search a bit and you will find it) A cardboard template in the shape of the cover can help with that. Just poke the bolts thru the cardboard.

 

Is there a trick to keeping the head gasket in place when ur putting the timing cover back on? I helped put a timing chain on my cousins truck Saturday and the head gasket kept moving in towards the timing chain.

So if I use the spray can type just spray a light coat on the gasket and I am good? I just want to make sure I do it right

 

I used black rtv. Smear it smoothly onto your timing cover, let the gasket tack onto it, smear rtv on the block.. install timing cover.

There's NO good way to do this without pulling the head or dropping the pan.
If you want to truly do this right, then pull the head and ensure its leak free 100%.