Best Method of Sealing Timing Cover/Oil Pan
I found a couple things while doing mine last weekend, with the engine upside down on a srand.
1- I ordered a Mopar brand gasket. It's black fiber. The end of the gasket that butts up to where the rubber seal installs on the timing cover was too long...and the bolt holes didn't line up.
I had to cut to length with a razor, and elongate the holes with a rat tail file.
It was only like this on one end, but it was both gaskets.
I can see people not cutting this off, and having the gasket bunch up...right in that critical area.
2- I put a thin bead of black RTV along the groove where the block meets the timing cover.
It's barely noticeable, but it's there and will catch your fingernail.
3- I put a bit of black RTV on the "step" where the rubber seal meets the pan, just under the "tit" that holds it to the metal, and a bit more under and around the tit it's self.
Finally, as is usually suggested, I put more RTV (thin layer) across the flat top of the seal, where it lays on the fiber gasket, and a fillet where the gap is where the seal/pan/gasket all meet.
There are five things meeting in this area Pan, block, timing cover, pan rail gasket, rubber seal.
IMO every one of those joints needs a dab of RTV.