Oil pan removal question

[skeeter72]

First I have a 94 7.3. I need to replace the oil pan gasket and I was wondering has anyone successfully removed the oil pan without removing the engine. I do not have the time, space, and equipment to remove the engine. So just curious if any has done successfully and how they did it.


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[icanfixall]

I really hate to say yes but its a real pain to do. First off the oil pump suction arm reaches to about 1/8 inch off the very bottom od the sump. Yes, thats correct. Remove the drain plug and feel up inside. You will be surprised its so close to the bottom of the pan. Now to remove the pan you have to lift the engine. then reach in to remove the oil pump and the suction line. The suction line is attached to the center main bearing bolt too for vibration elimination purposes. Once the mess is removed it falls into the pan. Now if you lifted the engine high enough the pan comes off but the oil pump and suction line is still going to be hell to reconnect to the block because our hands just don't twist or bend like they have to for a reassembly. Now why are you doing this job. Are you removing a oil pan gasket. If so did you install it because the gasket kit had one in it. If so I'm sorry to tell you we don't use a pan gasket nor did the factory. Only RTV was a factory applied gasket. Way too many gasket kits come with a pan gasket and thats really sad. Most will find several gaskets in a kit that do not fit our truck engine applications but it cheaper to include them in a kit that covers both trucks and vans. A gasket is cheaper than maintaining 2 different gasket kits when a couple of extra included gaskets will fit both applications or sometimes many applications. Please don't install a cork or rubber gasket. The trick to a good seal when using RTV is a super clean surface. Remember that gravity pulls oil down into what you just cleaned no matter what you are doing so clean the sides up higher into the block. Clean the ends really well where you have three different surfaces sealing up. And use plenty of RTV in the corners both front and back of the pan. In the back and front you have seal plates to the block and the pan seals to the block and plate. So thats 3 areas that needs to be so clean you can't see any oil or a finger print. Its a tuff upside job and hard to do. You may want to reconsider doing it too.

 

[skeeter72]

Thanks for the input. I'm doing this because I'm pretty sure I have a leak on the pan somewhere. I plan on getting the engine cleaned so I will know for sure soon. I was planning on using just rtv. Lastly I have nothing to lift the engine so I do not know what I am going to do.


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[icanfixall]

I'm betting your possible oil leak is from on top of the engine. Most are and so many feel its the oil pan. cleaning it is the best idea to know for sure where its coming from. Removing the oil pan in the truck when you don't have to is a painful job to find out it was unnecessary.

 

[riotwarrior]

Lastly I have nothing to lift the engine so I do not know what I am going to do.


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Rental rental rental engine hoist/crane if need be...Just saying...

And attempting to do this with JUST RTV in the truck will be like trying to put on women's stockings while blind folded and wearing oven mitts....

Just sayin you will not get a seal is all...seriously I've just had enough experience doing things like this to say you will never ever get the pan or block clean enough to make a seal.

Quite litterally the two parts have to be better than surgically clean with no oil residue what so ever including pan bolt holes...just aint going to happen in the truck!

JM2CW

Al

 

[Knuckledragger]

Even before you climb under the truck, Gary is right, it is often near the top of the engine that leaks oil. The valve cover gaskets are pretty easy to replace and do not require a hoist. there are a couple of grommets on top for the CDR, they leak after a while. There is a bolt near the back of the valley pan that has a copper gasket, I think. It leaks, too.

Just check the top before going out and getting a hoist, just in case the solution is easy.

 

[skeeter72]

All good advice. Thanks guys. I was planning on doing the engine cleaning before I even thought about undoing a bolt I just posted the thread to get an idea of what's need and what I need to get just to get some ducks in a row incase of the worst-case-scenario.


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[Ruger_556]

First I have a 94 7.3. I need to replace the oil pan gasket and I was wondering has anyone successfully removed the oil pan without removing the engine. I do not have the time, space, and equipment to remove the engine. So just curious if any has done successfully and how they did it.


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It is not worth it... I attempted it in mine and gave up several hours in. Much quicker to pull the motor

 

[Ruger_556]

Thanks for the input. I'm doing this because I'm pretty sure I have a leak on the pan somewhere. I plan on getting the engine cleaned so I will know for sure soon. I was planning on using just rtv. Lastly I have nothing to lift the engine so I do not know what I am going to do.


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The oem sealant on the pan is fantastic so I'd be ruling out everything else first.

 

[yARIC008]

I resealed my oil pan in the truck. It's doable, just have to clean and clean and clean, and then clean some more. Let it sit, clean again. If you want it to seal well anyway. The hardest parts are the front and rear. I used red high temp RTV. It's been pretty well sealed for about 10 years not.

I did not raise the engine when I did it. I just let the oil pan down some, it drops maybe 1-2 inches or so...