The oil pan is worn out???

[GAmes]

Just received my Oct 05 Trailer Life magazine. In the RV action line column a reader was looking for help because a Dodge dealer in Ocala, Fl had changed his oil and afterward the pan was leaking. After the magazine tried to get resolution a representative of the dealership answered: (red highlites mine) Mr. H*****'s truck has 140,000 miles on it, and the oil pan needs replacing.

It is in no way the fault of others [including our shop] who have done his oil changes in the past. Pure and simple, his pan is just worn out.



So there you have it all you high (?) mileage vehicle owners. We need to get a new pan on order ASAP, before the price hike due to insufficient supply and very high demand!!!

 

[trqmnstr]

Yeah, I've heard about a few pans going bad after an oil change. That's what happens when you don't do your own maintenance. Yeah right, that's the dumbest thing I've ever heard. I hope the "representative of the dealership" didn't actually believe that himself.

 

[MMeier]

I hope the "representative of the dealership" didn't actually believe that himself.

Oh, I would say there is a better then 50/50 chance he did!

 

[Mundgyver]

And what would be the item that wears out on these pans, Can the dealer tell us please

 

[BigEasy]

Perhaps the threads where the plug is...

 

[Dl5treez]

Worn out oil pans aren't uncommon.



Threads pull out over time, depending on many factors. Traditional pan thread repairs and the use of larger 'repair plugs' gets difficult when the hole is already 1" NPT, or bigger, like the plugs on a Cummins B for example.



Pans can also be victims of metal fatigue, especially in harsh, corrosive environments. They rust through, they get thin, they crack, all kinds of fun stuff happens to them. Aluminum pans are a special treat when they decide to change their chemical structure and start falling apart like a leper. *Apologies to all lepers reading this post*



I had a pan break one time while trying to do a quick "drop oil & go" for a company driver trying to get home for Christmas. Poor guy hadn't been home in 2 months, was told by his dispatcher to get the truck serviced, we pulled him in at 20 minutes 'til close and triple teamed his ride. In & out, 20 minutes, not a problem, done it before many times.



The truck had around 750,000 on it and had lived in the midwest it's whole life--read major undercarriage corrosion. The pan looked ugly and sure enough went *pop* when I pulled to take the plug out.



Fortunately a Series 60 pan drops fairly easily and we had him out before 1am, but it was the worst time for something like that to happen. Better for it to break in the shop than 175 miles down the road I suppose.



So, yes it's very possible the dealer rep was correct, but like anything else told by others, especially in a magazine article, THERE'S ALWAYS MORE TO THE STORY.

 

[GAmes]

I don't doubt for a minute that oil pans can be damaged by the environment or heavy handed mechs (which I think was the case here). The problem with this particular individual is that he (or she) is alluding that the pan is leaking because of the mileage which is pure BS.

 

[Joe G.]

One thing that causes this problem is that for some years the owner's manual showed the torque for the plug at 60 ft lbs. Way too much.

 

[Dl5treez]

The dealer rep is stating the mileage to explain how the pan could be worn out.



140,000 miles equals the drain plug has been R & I'd many times -- it's safe to say the owner did little or none of his own preventive maintenance, and had said maintenance done at more than one service center. What condition was the truck in at 140,000 miles? I've seen vehicles with many more than that number that look great, and others with 1/2 as many miles dead & gone.



Too many cooks spoil the broth--perhaps the dealer rep used the mileage comment to try and clarify a situation--or perhaps a magazine writer used some editorial license and altered the original wording slightly and we don't have the whole story.

 

[WDaniels]

Oh boy, thats rich! Worn out oil pan! Guess the oil running over the metal wears it out. Hahahahahahahahahah. I've over 230,00 on my truck and the environment doesn't come any harsher than up here and my pan is perfectly good. But you never know. The dealer told me that my fuel tank was rusted through also. :-laf (Just kidding)

WD

 

[Joe G.]

I don't know about rusted out fuel tanks , but I did see a logger's truck in the dealer for repair. The fuel tank was tied up with ropes.

 

[ohnoitsyu]

I think that Dl5treez's points are valid.



It only takes one ham-fisted, sloppy tech to start the thrashing of the threads. And with the number of oil changes that truck has already seen from unknown techs, who knows how bad and how quickly things can get mucked up.



BTW, what is the estimated cost a new oil pan?

 

[Dl5treez]

Doesn't really matter anyhow--not my truck, I don't give a flip what happens.



The dealer is a liar, the truck owner is getting screwed, he should've joined here first then he would've known everything and never had his truck serviced by incompetent dealer lying cheats again.



Did I miss anything?

 

[MMeier]

Whoa, easy there Mr. Moderator sir... eeeeezz!!! Where you been ?

 

[WDaniels]

Joe,

I was kidding about the fuel tank. They are plastic, or at least mine is.

WD