Looking to see if anyone has changed the oil pan gasket while the motor is still in the car. I have a 82 MonteCarlo and I have a very lite oil leak. Honestly, its so small I could just ignore it but the perfectionist in me won't let me do that lol. I haven't seen a drop on the ground yet but I do see some oil film on the back of the pan near the bottom and on the two long oil pan bolts. I pulled the Trans last year and it's not coming from the rear main seal.

 

The factory rivets the gasket to the pan, so it won't just slide out if you only drop the pan a bit. You'll need to pull it out to be able to drill them out.

 

No rivets in this pan. I built the motor from scratch. Just want to know if I would have to raise the motor and remove the oil pan pickup tube to get the pan out.

 

You'll have to lower the pan enough to clear the windage tray and may be able to snake it by the pickup tube.

Andrew

 

Ok. It's not leaking bad at all so if I have to raise the motor and stuff I'll leave it along. If it was a constant annoying drip or spot on the garage floor then I would change it no questions asked.

 

Question is... how close is the pan to the Cross member.?. if it is close, You most likely will have to raise it some to get the pan to clear the windage tray and pickup tube for you to remove it

BC

 

I tried this on my Nova. I dropped the pan 4" or so and the gasket isn't coming out. The pickup tube sits very close to the bottom of the pan, so you basically need to be able to drop the pan enough to actually remove it, or at least pull the pickup tube out of the baffling.

I would drop the pan an inch or so, and run a bead of Ultra Black RTV around the gasket and re-install.

 

If you can drop it a couple of inches, do it and unbolt the pickup tube. Then you should be able to slide the pan back as long as you have enough clearance to pass the windage tray

 

Ok, thank you everyone.

 

Are you 100% sure it is the pan and not leaking down there from somewhere else?

I thought mine was leaking at one point and it was just a loose oil pressure sensor on the top of the motor. Rub your hand around and check for wet spots, LOL.