Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Oil Pan gasket

[CBALLA]

What is the easiest way to chang a oil pan gasket? Mine is starting to leak a little and was wondering if this is a big job?

 

[JCyrbok]

before the hassle of changing it (which from what I remember reading before is a real PIA, like the need for a engine hoist and un doing motor mounts to get enough room to get the pan out etc) make sure all the bolts are torqued to spec and if that does not work take a couple bolts out clean em, put high temp RTV on the threads and run em back up, work your way around the pan till you get em all and then retorque to spec. Had to do that on a couple of bolts in the front where the oil would weep around the gasket to the threads of the bolts and out.



Mine was starting to weep and I retorqued the pan bolts, you would be suprized at how "loose" some of them were (like a full turn to get to spec).



Since I did that there is no more weeping. I just check em about once a year (which is about my oil change interval too).



Hope this helps



J-

 

[CBALLA]

Thanks JCybok. What is the torque spec. for the pan bolts.

 

[JCyrbok]

on my 01 they are 18ft/lbs, i would assume that they are the same on the 00's, but you may want to confirm that.



J-

 

[Wyomingcowboy]

They are 18 ft. lbs. on the 2000, also. However, sometimes that is too much... ... . when I was doing my rebuild I ruined 2 gaskets by trying to get to 18 ft lbs. A general rule for oil pan gaskets is to tighten the bolts until the gasket starts to move. Perhaps after the gasket gets a little oil soaked you would be able to tighten to spec? That was my experience.