Thermostat Housing and which FIPG to use?

I just discovered a small amount of crust at the front passenger side water crossover gasket and planning to replace all four now. It looks like I have to remove the thermostat housing to get to these. When reassembling the FSM for the 2000 says to use PN 08826-00100 which is Seal Packing 1282B and is expensive AF (~$75). I've heard some people using Toyota brand FIPGs use PN

$21 00295-00103 Formed-in-Place Oil Pan Gasket - 3 oz. Tube

00295-00103 which is the 103 FIPG (~$15) and others using

$22 AISIN AB1207B Engine Sealant

AISIN AB1207B which looks similar to 103 FIPG and costs about the same. I think I may have used the 103 when I did the TB a few years ago. Any recommendations from @Shifty' or one of the other experts? Thanks.

 

I used the AISIN AB1207B from RockAuto on my thermostat housing. RockAuto lists it as an OEM interchange with 00296-00103. 1282B is supposedly compatible with Toyota pink super long life and red coolant. I believe the 103 FIPG is compatible with just only red coolant (vs SLL pink), but I could be wrong.

https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=11835301&cc=0&pt=1000166&jsn=280

 

Looks like updated FSM to include 1207b/103 and some discussion about it.

https://www.toyotanation.com/thread...911&nested_view=1&sortby=oldest#post-14158911

 

I use Permatex "the right stuff" 90 minute grey for everything.

I think @FishNinja used a Harbor freight red flavor

 

I did the Toyota black at the insistence of their service department guy stating they’ve never used the $80 version and never had one come back with a leak…

 

the fact that you know this is impressive. But yea. HF red lol still going strong

 

Some of that full metal spectrum going on. I saw your post a while back about it and thought to myself "I too like to disregard the rules".