Timing cover leak

Timing Cover Gasket Leak | PriusChat

 

Gunk the engine down, hose it off really well. Drive it to dry it off.
It's very ikely that their is no leak around the timing cover. There is NOT a gasket
for the timing cover, it's siliconed. Once it's clean, you can search for where the
oil is actually leaking from. And how much.
Since your oil level isn't going down, it's not leaking much, and nothing to be
concerned about.
And you do not have to remove the engine to remove and replace the timing cover.

Either the valve cover gasket or the oil pressure switch is likely leaking. This is common.
The oil pressure switch is a $10-15 item, and fairly easy to replace yourself.

 

I don't have a factory service manual but I guarantee I can reseal a gen 3 timing cover gasket without pulling the engine. My guess is pull the coolant pump, AC compressor, passenger side motor mount, etc. Might need to monkey around with a floor jack below the oil pan. One thing you need to look out for (don't ask how I know this) is to make sure you seal the opening/passage near the coolant pump. Otherwise, you will have a good mixture of oil and coolant in short order.

 

Oil filter bracket comes off too IIRC.

See last link in my signature*; it’s the full engine section from the Repair Manual, believe timing chain cover remove/install info will be in there, albeit, not as a stand-alone procedure (which would be nice).

Also, the Toyota specd form-in-place gasket has a very short cure time; I’d consider something readily available in North America, suitable and longer cure time, specifically: Permatex Ultra Black. Gasket Masters use it IIRC (check their videos).

* On a phone turn it landscape to see signatures.