How to Change the Oil Pan Gasket on a 22RE

As you may already know, the 22RE is one of the most dependable engines used by Toyota. However, like any other engine, its parts and components will wear over time, including the oil pan gasket seal under the engine. This pan uses a silicone adhesive sealant--not a pre-cut gasket. Still, you can replace the leaking pan sealant on your Toyota 22RE engine by removing a few components for access. This procedure does not apply to 4WD models.

Remove the Oil Pan

Park your Toyota on a level surface.

Raise the front of the vehicle using a floor jack and support it on 2 jack stands.

Apply the parking brake and chock the rear wheels.

Detach the undercover from under the engine using a ratchet, ratchet extension and socket.

Set a large catch pan under the engine oil pan, and remove the pan drain plug using a wrench. Loosen the engine oil filler cap and wait for the oil to drain completely. Replace the drain plug.

Remove the engine mounting bolts using a breaker bar, ratchet extension and socket.

Raise the transmission slightly using the floor jack, to gain access to all the oil pan mounting bolts. Put a piece of wood block between the transmission and the floor jack to prevent damage to the transmission.

Unscrew all the oil pan bolts in a crisscross pattern using a ratchet, ratchet extension and socket.

Separate the oil pan from the engine block. If necessary, tap the side of the pan with a rubber mallet to break the seal between the pan and the block. Remove the pan from the vehicle.

Install the Oil Pan

Scrape the old sealant gasket from the mating surfaces of the oil pan and engine block using a plastic scraper.

Clean the oil pan and engine block mating surface thoroughly with solvent and clean shop rags.

Apply a continuous bead of silicone adhesive sealant around the groove of the oil pan flange, curling around the inside of the pan mounting holes.

Apply silicone adhesive sealant to each end of the chain cover and rear oil seals that come in contact with the oil pan flange at the bottom of the engine block.

Position the oil pan in place under the engine block, and install the pan mounting bolts using the ratchet extension and socket.

Tighten the oil pan bolts gradually and evenly in a crisscross pattern using the ratchet, ratchet extension and socket. Torque the mounting bolts to 9 foot-pounds (13 Nm) using a torque wrench.

Lower the transmission and remove the floor jack from under the vehicle.

Install and tighten the engine mounting bolts using the breaker bar, ratchet extension and socket.

Replace the engine undercover using the ratchet, ratchet extension and socket.

Lower your Toyota and remove the chocks from the rear wheels.

Remove the engine oil filler cap, put a funnel in the filler hole and refill the engine with the correct amount and type of engine oil for your particular Toyota model. Replace the engine oil filler cap.

Check the oil pan for oil leaks.