I had to remove my timing chain cover to replace my lower end. Well, now I have a problem with the front edge of the head gasket and where it mates to the timing chain cover.

Is there a good way, or trick to sealing this area?

 

People get away with putting a bunch of RTV in that area and trying to seal it up, but it's not the correct way. It never seals and your always going to have an oil leak.

Best way to fix it right is to remove the head and put a new head gasket on after the timing cover is on. The FSM states the correct way to do a timing chain, or any type of service that involves removing the timing chain cover, is to remove the head and replace the head gasket.

 

Lower end of the engine? If you were doing major work to your lower end, why wouldn't the head already be off? Sounds like you should have just done the job all at once and done a full rebuild.

But yes, removing the head is the correct way to do a timing chain cover.

 

silicone is fine in that area , if thats "your bag" ... chain is only "splash" oiled in that top area , and not pressure oiled , so as long as it's clean , you should be able to get away with it ..

I would never do it , but I have seen it done successfully



.

 

Somebody put some kinda putty/epoxy on mine at the top of the tc where it meets the head. anyway it squirts oil when you rev it up So it didnt work. Just replace the head gasket
You can kinda see it in this picture its the gold stuff

 

im pretty sure in the fsm it says to use RTV on the front of the head along with the head gasket or its the back of the head one or the other because thats what I did on my celica and I have a factory service Manuel for an 87 4runner

 

But not without removing the head. Definitely doesn't say to do the timing cover without removing the head, then to put a bunch of rtv in and hope it doesn't leak.

 

Well, I cracked the threaded portion of the timing cover where it bolts to the cylinder head. I cleaned it out very good with brake cleaner, and jammed some RTV in there with my finger. I guess the RTV dried a little too long cos when I tightened it (I did tighten it too much) the thing cracked rather audibly.

This is turning into one big nightmare. I'm going to epoxy the crack, RTV the head gasket, and run it.

If the engine has to come out, and i have to replace the timing chain cover, and headgasket (again) then that's what I'll do. At this point, it is worth it to run it and see what happens.

 

I ment take the head off because that's the only way to get rtv under the head gasket...

 

You're right, it is the only sure way. I ended up cleaning (Wire bush and brake cleaner) the area inside the timing chain cover where it cracked, and filling it with RTV. I might RTV the outside as well, because Epoxy wouldn't flex enough if I ever removed it, again. All in all I am not too concerned with it.

 

Probably time to start looking for a timing cover.

 

X2 call up the parts man

 

Wolf....spend $150 and get the ENGNBLDR FEK, or front end kit, from eBay.

you get a new:
timing cover
timing chain
timing chain guides
oil pump
water pump
gaskets for above

Do it right, don't keep patching broken parts

 

I should have bought a new one but I didn't have the money. I sealed it up really tight with silicone. I prepped it with brake cleaner. A few hundred miles so far and not a drop has leaked, not even a stain (And it's real dusty so I could tell.)

What I did was use a scooping motion with my finger to really push the silicone in with the timing chain cover off. And of course I used a TON of brake cleaner to really prep the surfaces. But it worked. I'm happy.

 

my cover on my celica is leaking found out its cracked after takeing it off and replaceing the gasket and then putting it all back together.... so its pretty much lookin like im savein my money an doing a 2jz swap after winter, because why else I need more powa lol