It's matter of choice. At might place Toyota uses sealant. I personally prefer cork because again personally for me it's easier to handle.
If you're referring to the water pump gasket, and, if you're changing a faulty water pump, a gasket should come with it and also needs to be changed (Use the grey Permatex gasket sealant on the new gasket). If you're referring to the head gasket - not necessarily.
The valve cover gasket is damaged. Needs to be replace.
No never. Not if both surfaces are good, clean and true. I've never, ever, used sealant on a head gasket. If the surfaces are NOT true etc. then you should get them faced by an engineering firm. Always use a new gasket every time. Never use an old one. (The only exception is that the vehicle manufacturer says to use sealant in the manual.)
Check to see it the valve cover bolts are torqued to specs. If this does not stop the leak, the gasket needs replacing.
The housing needs to be removed. Check for scratches on the housing or engine. Make sure that all of the old gasket is removed before using gasket sealer to help seal the new gasket.
Decent job -everything done which needs doing -about £430.
The Chevrolet water pump bolts do need a sealant. Thread tape can be used on the bolts in the place of a sealant.
Hey David==It differes greatly between different areas of the country. Call a couple of local shops and get estimates. goodluckJoe My 1995 Camry blew a head gasket recently. I asked a Toyota dealer who quoted me $800. A couple of local shops told me $700. This does not include an extra $100 or so if the head is warped and needs to be resurfaced. Hope this helped.
there is no oil pan gasket on this car. it sealed with a silicone type sealant. the trans. does not have to come out. the front exhaust pipe does though, as well as a bracket located on the front side of the engine, and the transmission lower cover plate. (thats probably why you thought the trans. had to come out). once those things are out of the way the bolts are easy to remove and the pan just needs to be pried off the bottom of the block and resealed with a suitable sealant. If you have a V6, you can easily remove the lower pan by removing the bolts and prying the pan off the aluminum case. reseal it in the same manner.
To replace the oil pan gasket on a 2001 Volkswagen Passat turbo the exhaust downpipe must be removed. The oil needs to be drained and all the pan bolts need to be removed as well. When replacing the gasket a sealer should be used to ensure a proper seal.
In general, engine thermostats can be found by following the LOWER radiator hose to where it attaches to the engine. The hose is typically attached to a fitting behind which is a gasket and the thermostat. The gasket needs to be replaced when the thermostat is replaced.
To replace the head gasket on a 1994 Oldsmobile Cutlass 3.4L, everything on the top of the motor needs to be removed. The battery should be unhooked first, then the valve covers, then the head itself. Replace the new gasket after cleaning the old gunk off from the first gasket. It is a good idea to take a picture before, during, and after, to make sure everything is hooked up like it should be. One note, the valve cover gasket will also have to be replaced after removal.