Oil pan gasket leak

[JJRam]

I have a '95 e150 van with a 4.9 straight 6. There is a small piece of oil pan gasket (about an inch long) missing from the right side near the rear of the engine. I have been told, by my oil change tech, that this is common for that engine.
Anyone have any info on this? similar experience, any recalls, causes, fixes, etc?
I thought I had a bad main bearing seal, as it was dripping from the fly-wheel, until I found the hole.
I had gotten estimates from $500 - $800 to replace the gasket (have to pull engine, evidently), so I cleaned the hole and plugged it with silicone about a year ago, which took care of the leak. Just started leaking again.
Guess I'll do the same again if there is no other reasonably cheap fix.

Curious
Jeff

[ervinj]

you don't have to pull the engine but it is a pain in the rear to change the gasket. If you have any knowledge of engines you should be able to remove the motor mount bolts , jack the engine drop (as far as you can the pan, clean the old gasket off , glue the new on the block and replace
the pan and so forth. 800 would be way out of the question and the 500 is too high for my area.

ervinj