4 Oil Pan Replacement Tips

Owning a car or truck means that you will also have to maintain it and one job may be oil pan replacement. You will have to replace an oil pan if a hole forms, if the oil begins to burn, or if the oil gets too thick and clogs the line. The oil pan holds all of the oil that your car uses, which makes it a very important part of your vehicle. When the time comes to replace the oil pan there are several tips that will help you achieve this and the following article will share some of those tips.

1. Detect an Oil Leak

Replacing an oil pan may not even be necessary if a leak is properly diagnosed. Oil pan replacement can be a lot of work and if it can be avoided you will save a lot of time. You will need to get under the car and inspect the oil pan closely. Take with you a degreaser and some rags. When you are under the car use the degreaser liberally. Wait for it to work for several minutes and then remove all of the grime and dirt. Wait for several minutes and if there is a leak you will notice oil beginning to pool or drip. If there is no leak then oil pan replacement can be avoided.

2. Right Tools for the Job

An oil pan replacement job requires some very specific tools and equipment in order to accomplish the job correctly. It is very important to have these tools handy and at the ready. You will need a degreaser to remove all of the dirt and grime that has collected on the oil pan. You will also need a mallet, a new oil pan gasket, wrench, screwdriver, and thread sealer. These are the tools that are an absolute necessity. Other tools that you should consider having on hand is a good ratchet set, a bucket, and rags.

3. Look Carefully

There are many lug nuts and bolts associated with oil pan replacement. The bottom of the car is full of wires, tubes, and metal. Among this jumbled mess you will find the oil pan. Use your hands and feel the oil pan and notice its details. Follow its lines until you find lug nuts and bolts. You may find some that are carefully hidden under inaccessible areas of the car. If you do not remove all of the lug nuts or bolts then the oil pan cannot be removed.

4. Clean the Site

When you remove the oil pan you will see a lot of gunk around the site and embedded around the gasket. Arm yourself with a degreaser, rags, and a strong solvent. In order to have a successful oil pan replacement the area needs to be clean. Use the solvent and degreaser in tandem to remove the grime. This will give you a pristine surface in order to mount the new oil pan. This will also eliminate gaps in the seal created by grime which can create a void.