Technical Oil pan replacement

[tobywood13]

Today I decided to finally tackle my oil leak after I got sick of the ever expanding black puddle on my driveway. I replaced the valve cover gasket, which was leaking, changed the oil and filter, and job done.

Except while I was underneath the car I noticed that whilst the valve cover was leaking and causing quite a mess up top, the majority of the oil underneath was coming from elsewhere. In fact, it was coming from a hairline crack about halfway up the front of the oil pan. So, I need to drop the pan, and replace it and a new gasket (and my brand new oil...).

Is there a guide on how to remove the oil pan? Do I need to drop the exhaust downpipe to get it out, or is it as simple as unbolting all bolts around the top of the pan, then wiggling it out? Thanks!

 

[Dragon Man]

i have some advice kinda related.

though ive never done any work on the oil pan of a FIRE engine so unable to offer advice on that, i do have this:
on most FIRE engines theres a O ring seal on the thing your coils bolt to on the side of the engine. its where the distributor would be if it was the older engine. both seals are the same size for coil pack bracket or distributor and both will be long brittle by now and need changing. worth checking if you notice oil bell housing side of the engine.

 

[tobywood13]

i have some advice kinda related.

though ive never done any work on the oil pan of a FIRE engine so unable to offer advice on that, i do have this:
on most FIRE engines theres a O ring seal on the thing your coils bolt to on the side of the engine. its where the distributor would be if it was the older engine. both seals are the same size for coil pack bracket or distributor and both will be long brittle by now and need changing. worth checking if you notice oil bell housing side of the engine.

I’ll check that, but there’s definitely a crack in the pan. Pushing against it causes some drops to appear, so it’s pretty certain. It seems to leak the most when the oil is hot, probably the metal expands a bit and allows some seepage. I’ve added a photo, it’s a bit tricky to see but you can see the crack starting at the top, and then the drips where the oil flows down and collects at the bottom.

Annoyingly one of my valve cover bolts isn’t tightening all the way, so I also have a bit of leak from one corner up top. Might need to have a go at thread repair.

 

[Blurredman]

Capture the drained oil and put it through coffee filters and re-use.

 

[Hharbers]

Had to remove mine last year as it was leaking from the seal.
There is no gasket, just liquid sealand

Drain oil of engine
Unbolt pan, wiggle it out.
Let engine drip out
Degrease engine mating surface as best as possible
Bead iquid sealand on top of new pan
Let sealand set a little
Bolt it back and torque mildly
Refill oil

 

[tobywood13]

Unbolt pan, wiggle it out.

Sounds straightforward enough? Did you have to take the exhaust off?

 

[Hharbers]

I dont think so

 

[tobywood13]

I’ve just started this job, I managed to get all but one of the oil pan bolts + nuts out. The last one remaining is the nut on the back left of the engine (if you’re facing forwards). It’s in a very tight space.

I can’t seem to get a tool on this nut, and don’t want to damage or round it off by forcing it too much. Any suggestions on how I can remove it?

 

[Hharbers]

A normal socket (10mm?) on a 1/4 ratched with extension should fit as i remember

 

[tobywood13]

A normal socket (10mm?) on a 1/4 ratched with extension should fit as i remember

Thanks, will try again tomorrow with a longer extension.

 

[tobywood13]

Managed to get the last nut off using a shallow 10mm socket and all my extensions! Thanks for the tip Hharbers.

Now the oil pan won’t come unstuck from the engine, all the old sealant is gluing it on.

 

[Hharbers]

Light tapping with rubber Hammer and bit prying with wide flat screwdriver to break the seal

 

[tobywood13]

All done now, waiting for sealant to cure then will try filling with oil. Hope it doesn’t leak!

 

[Hharbers]

Did you use also a gasket or only sealant?

 

[tobywood13]

Did you use also a gasket or only sealant?

Only sealant, my model doesn’t have a gasket.

 

[tobywood13]

Filled with oil, turned the engine on, its leaking…

Back to square one and another bottle of oil.

 

[Hharbers]

Mine didnt have a gasket also
I used only sealant but its still sweating at timing belt side.
In future Have to redo it again also, Maybe use gasket next time

 

[tobywood13]

Mine didnt have a gasket also
I used only sealant but its still sweating at timing belt side.
In future Have to redo it again also, Maybe use gasket next time

Mine is leaking at the gearbox side, although it leaked quite a lot at first but then stopped? Now it’s idling, at temperature, now more leaks (it still has loads of oil in it).

Perhaps it was just a slight gap in the sealant that’s now sealed itself.

 

[tobywood13]

Nope, still leaking. It seems to leak from one side, when I was lowering the car from jack stands it leaked when leaning over, so I imagine it will leak when going round corners. I’ll have to do it all again!