Where’s the link?
It’d take 3.6 hours of dealer labor for the fix based on the TSB. If you read the procedures and how much the job is involved in the TSB, I wouldn’t consider it’s an easy job to be successful at least for me.
What I was primarily referring to are the possibilities other than the full reseal job, but it seems that I wasn't clear enough about that. And there's no link, because this activity is all ad hoc, depending on observed findings and results.
Here's the rough framework I'd use for oil found on a timing cover. First, a careful examination of the timing and valve cover surfaces, and everything else close by as well. Removing the plastic wheel well shield provides access and a good look at the lower cover and bolts, and an inspection camera can be used to see some of the upper ones as well. Take pics of any surfaces having oil deposits. Then the entire timing and valve cover surfaces get cleaned up as much as possible.
Next, I'd check the timing cover bolts with an inch torque wrench, so find out if any of them have loosened up. For bolts that can only be reached with a box wrench, I'd give just a tug on it to check for looseness. If any loose bolts are found, I'd try to apply some RTV into that section of the cover - either via RTV spray can, or by hand-packing a small bit into the area. Then after waiting for the specified RTV setup time, torque the loose bolt(s) to spec.
After doing whatever the above turns out to be, I'd button it up and drive it for a few hundred miles or so, before taking another close look at the cover, to get the next checkpoint. If the leak/weep continues to happen, the final thing to try (after cleaning the surface really well) is to apply RTV to the leak location of the cover, using either an RTV spray can or by hand-packing. This is simply an attempt to block the exit point(s), and if the surface is clean and free of oil, a small amount of RTV can be very effective when applied that way.
As others have said previously, the amount of leakage is a huge factor in what (if anything) needs to be done with a leak/weep from a cover or pan. And that, along with the target life for the vehicle, would determine what my future plan would be.
I've had success doing what I described above, and it would be my automatic go-to, without any second thoughts. And AFA the full timing cover reseal job, yes that's certainly not something that every DIYer would want to consider doing. It would be up to each individual to make that decision, based on their DIY knowledge base and skills, along with their comfort level for that job.
