On replacing a valve cover gasket

[SiennaDriver]

My 2000 Sienna front valve cover gasket, the one near the radiator, is leaking badly. I've only installed gaskets that needed shellac or silicone like sealants applied to the mating surface.

Bought a gasket at the Toyota counter (11214-20010) and was told that it doesn't need any type of goop applied. All I need to do is insert the edge into the groove and gently sequentially tighten the bolts.

Is that correct?

The online 2001 (mine's a 2000) manual refers to things called seal packing, will I need that?

9. INSTALL CYLINDER HEAD COVERS
(a) Apply seal packing to the cylinder heads as shown in the
illustration.
Seal packing: Part No. 08826-00080 or equivalent
(b) Install the gasket to the cylinder head cover.
(c) Install the cylinder head cover with the 8 bolts. Uniformly
tighten the bolts in several passes. Install the 2 cylinder
head covers.
Torque: 8.0 N·m (80 kgf·cm, 69 in.·lbf)

[Black Sunshine]

I dunno what that is. I used Fel-pro gaskets and they didn't mention anything like that. It may just be a substance that temporarily glues the gasket in place. I have a tube of locktite gasket adhesive. It's like a glue stick and it just keeps the gasket from slipping when you put it in.

Are you doing the spark plug shaft seals too? I think that you have to. Are you doing the rear one? Is your front cover missing a bolt on the top left? Mine was and I don't know why. I'm hoping that it doesn't leak from there but I don't know yet.

[yotatoter]

Yes you put the gasket that mates to the head on dry except you put some hi temp silicone on the half moon pieces as shown in the manual

[Black Sunshine]

Or just buy Fel-pro silicone gaskets FTW!

[SiennaDriver]

OK, will grab some silicone gasket goop and tackle it. Thanks for clarifying.