arthropraxis

I have a custom oil pan for my conversion that has a pinhole leak in a weld. I have tried to mig weld the pain while on the car but it won't work. The pan is actively leaking and the oil in the pan cools the weld too quickly.

If I take the pan off and clean it up, would a Mig welder make a good enough weld? Or, should I take it to a welder to have it tig welded?

The mig welder I have is a cheap Harbor Freight unit. Thanks, for any replies.

rennat_2006

iTrader: (10)

Steel or alum pan?

If it is steel then your welder should do it fine.

Pop N Wood

iTrader: (1)

You need to pull that thing off and get the weld area absolutely clean. I have heard of guys running it through the dishwasher. the slightest bit of oil on the weld surface and you risk a contaminated weld.

If you take a clean pan to a welding shop they might charge you all of $20 to tig the weld. The work is in pulling the pan, so think of it as $20 insurance to make sure you don't have to pull it a second time.

arthropraxis

It is a steel pan. Would Tig welding work better than Mig?

gofastwclass

iTrader: (2)

The real difference in your case would be the experience of the person doing the welding and the tools at their disposal. A TIG would be ideal, but someone good could do the gig with a MIG. If you aren't an experinced welder, trying to fix holes in an oil pan won't work. If you have a flux core harbor freight welder, you will never get the clean solid weld necessary for fixing your pan.

Take it out, clean it immaculately and take it to someone good - and not the local muffler guy. That may cost a bit, but you won't be pulling the pan again for that reason.

A good weld looks like a stack of dimes and will not leak as shown below...

arthropraxis

Thanks, for the replies. I'll find someone to take care of this for me.

Apparently, the original welder wasn't very good. My first pan had a hole you could see light through and this one has a hole too. Neither pan has that roll of nickles look to it, looks more like bubble gum stretched along a seam.

blownnova

iTrader: (10)

Where are you located?

arthropraxis

In South Carolina.

Marcello7x

iTrader: (10)

Have it done, i have a flux core mig and a miller tig....its like night and day. Difference is my skill and experience. Ive mig'ed longer so its almost as nice looking as my tiging.