PODO

It's time to replace the oil pan on the 350.
After removing the pan and scraping the glue off the face to make it nice and smooth I'm curious as to mounting the new one.
It came with a gasket.
Do I need to seal the gasket to the oil pan then add sealer to the oil pans mounting face before installing or just add sealant to the pan then install?

Appreciate any advice this brain trust might offer.

TIA

MattRX

I just used dabs of sealant to hold the gasket to the pan itself while I installed it. I just gave the sealant a couple of minutes until the gasket was in position but not fully-dried where it was hard and installed it.

PODO

Thanks for that Matt.
Did you add any sealant to the top of the gasket or the mounting face?
Or just put it on dry without any sealant?
I'll do the same as you, putting some down to hold the gasket in place.

I wonder why the original didn't have a gasket???

Thanks for the help!

MattRX

I went dry with the gasket. On both my Highlander and RX the pans were strictly held on by RTV which was interesting as the transmission pans have a cork-rubber gasket. The new gaskets for both my oil pans were cork-rubber and boy, was I glad I didn't have to deal with messy sealant. Never had an issue with leaks with the new gaskets.

Clutchless

What brands of oil pans did both of you use? I have a small dent in mine from a mechanic when they replaced the water pump and may or may not replace it. Depends on the aggravation factor. I replaced it on my old Infiniti G35 and it was pretty easy.
I watched a couple of youtube videos and they just used RTV on the RX-Highlander etc..

MattRX

I reused the OEM pan on my Highlander as it had just sprung a leak from the RTV after 20 yrs. On my RX, the pan was badly dented by a previous owner or "mechanic" of my 2008 RX350. I used a Spectra Premium on the RX. Pan looks to be decent quality, except the drain plug insert was a little less heavy duty and it was harder to thread by hand and so I'm not sure I would recommend that brand. The fitment however was fine and the oil level and it is resisting rust well. The pan on the RX was quite easy to change, there's a locating stud which makes getting the pan on super simple.

carguy75

I am also going to change out my RX350 lower oil pan with a Dorman brand replacement. I have seen that I could you use rubber gaskets instead of RTV to seal the RX350 lower oil pan, but I will be sealing my pan with Permatex Ultra Black RTV for a long lasting seal. Rubber cover/pan gaskets are more convenient,but tend to leak sooner than a good properly placed bead of RTV.

Many mechanics just use RTV instead of rubber pan/cover gaskets that even come OEM on many models to reduce customer complaints and comeback due to leaks a few months or couple years later. RTV makes a better seal and account for uneven surfaces better than rubber gaskets. RTV is messy, but it works the best.