Looks like I need a new oil pan

[CheeseHelmet]

It's rusted to s*** and leaking from somewhere ;_;

Naturally, I have questions...

1. Are non-OEM oil pans any good?
2. Should I use sealant (grey RTV iirc) or a gasket (my local auto parts store sells one)?
3. Do I really need to remove the J-pipe?
4. In this state, is the car still safe to drive (ie. could the pan suddenly explode on the highway)?

 

[thecrash91]

if your leaking oil out of the pan its really not a good idea to drive, you could lose too much and the engine could blow

 

[_Chris]

1)What aftermarket pans are you looking at?
2)Use what ever is called for with what ever oil pan you get.
3)yes
4)best bet is to not drive it.

 

[CheeseHelmet]

1)What aftermarket pans are you looking at?

Something cheap from a local auto parts store.

 

[ucMP3]

Look on www.rockauto.com

 

[CheeseHelmet]

Look on www.rockauto.com

Thanks for the link, funny enough it's the same price where I live because of shipping.

 

[CheeseHelmet]

Since I'll be removing the J-pipe, should I replace both gaskets (the flat one and the donut one)? And since those bolts on the oil pan are so rusty, should they be replaced?

 

[slavrenz]

Since I'll be removing the J-pipe, should I replace both gaskets (the flat one and the donut one)? And since those bolts on the oil pan are so rusty, should they be replaced?

Yes, yes, and yes

 

[808mazdap5]

dont use rtv to seal the pan, you dont want any to get inside and it might not stayed sealed forever. buy an oil pan gasket always. i only use rtv on stuff like throttle body seals and stuff like that

 

[CheeseHelmet]

Yes, yes, and yes

Would you have any recommendations on where to get the bolts? Mazda wants about $3 each (I need 10), that seems pricey to me...

dont use rtv to seal the pan, you dont want any to get inside and it might not stayed sealed forever. buy an oil pan gasket always. i only use rtv on stuff like throttle body seals and stuff like that

Interesting, I recall reading that the gaskets are more prone to leaks. I'll ask what they recommend at the store, I'd sure love to use a gasket, RTV is a PITA but the manual says to use it...

 

[slavrenz]

Would you have any recommendations on where to get the bolts? Mazda wants about $3 each (I need 10), that seems pricey to me...

Take one of the bolts to an auto parts store and match up the threads. I'm guessing it's an M8x1.25 with maybe a 40mm or 50mm length.

Interesting, I recall reading that the gaskets are more prone to leaks. I'll ask what they recommend at the store, I'd sure love to use a gasket, RTV is a PITA but the manual says to use it...

I used a cork gasket with a thin layer of rtv smeared on both sides. I always use both if possible, unless it's the head gasket.

 

[CheeseHelmet]

Take one of the bolts to an auto parts store and match up the threads. I'm guessing it's an M8x1.25 with maybe a 40mm or 50mm length.

I used a cork gasket with a thin layer of rtv smeared on both sides. I always use both if possible, unless it's the head gasket.

Sounds like a plan, thanks slavrenz!

 

[CheeseHelmet]

I'm making progress...

Today I got the j-pipe off, whatever monkey worked on it last used the wrong nuts (different thread pitch) so those bolts with the springs are ruined. It took a good 30-40min of playing around till the pipe came free.

The bolts that hold in the oil pan all came loose super easy, I don't know if it's because I soaked them in penetrating oil for a day but if I clean away the rust (and the rtv on the threads) they'll be re-usable. Tomorrow I'll pry off the pan and put on the new one.

 

[slavrenz]

I'm making progress...

Today I got the j-pipe off, whatever monkey worked on it last used the wrong nuts (different thread pitch) so those bolts with the springs are ruined. It took a good 30-40min of playing around till the pipe came free.

The bolts that hold in the oil pan all came loose super easy, I don't know if it's because I soaked them in penetrating oil for a day but if I clean away the rust (and the rtv on the threads) they'll be re-usable. Tomorrow I'll pry off the pan and put on the new one.

If your oil pan has been leaking, the bolts have probably been getting covered with oil, which would make them much easier to loosen up (it's like being soaked in penetrating oil 24/7).

Don't you hate when idiots work on your car? I'm in the process of replacing several cracked exhaust pipes on my wife's Sentra, and the whole reason they failed is because the dumb@$$es who worked on it a long time ago removed a bunch of the exhaust mountings and didn't replace them, which put a whole bunch of unnecessary stress on the system.

 

[CheeseHelmet]

How the hell do you get oil pan off? All that RTV has it stuck there pretty well...

The service manual shows a procedure with a funny looking tool, but the auto parts place near my house doesn't have one. I saw a few howtos that used a simple pry bar, but I'm afraid that'll scratch/crack the block. How do you guys do it?

 

[slavrenz]

How the hell do you get oil pan off? All that RTV has it stuck there pretty well...

The service manual shows a procedure with a funny looking tool, but the auto parts place near my house doesn't have one. I saw a few howtos that used a simple pry bar, but I'm afraid that'll scratch/crack the block. How do you guys do it?

That tool is just a wedge that won't scratch the block. Get yourself a gasket scraper and use that to wedge in there.

Alternatively, since you're replacing the pan, just beat on it with a hammer until it comes loose.

 

[njaremka]

How the hell do you get oil pan off? All that RTV has it stuck there pretty well...

The service manual shows a procedure with a funny looking tool, but the auto parts place near my house doesn't have one. I saw a few howtos that used a simple pry bar, but I'm afraid that'll scratch/crack the block. How do you guys do it?

there should be a weld nut on the oil pan flange somewhere. you thread a pan bolt into that nut, and it will pop the oil pan off. once you get a small gap, use a flat scraper as a pry tool.

 

[slavrenz]

there should be a weld nut on the oil pan flange somewhere. you thread a pan bolt into that nut, and it will pop the oil pan off. once you get a small gap, use a flat scraper as a pry tool.

Or do it the right way, like was stated here . Personally, I would more enjoy the satisfaction of wailing on the pan with a hammer. (yippy)

 

[CheeseHelmet]

I did it! I had already tried using the nut and pulling as hard as I could, it didn't work. I used a pry bar! I put the tip on an exposed bit of the oil pan flange (on the right side) and rested the bent part of the bar on the block, one good pull and it popped right off. I didn't need to force anything between the oil pan and the block

Now that I have it off, there's a bunch of RTV left on the block. I sent my brother to pickup some gasket remover, can I spray that stuff safely in that area?

EDIT: Thank you so much slavrenz for the continued support, I owe you a few beers

 

[njaremka]

I did it! I had already tried using the nut and pulling as hard as I could, it didn't work. I used a pry bar! I put the tip on an exposed bit of the oil pan flange (on the right side) and rested the bent part of the bar on the block, one good pull and it popped right off. I didn't need to force anything between the oil pan and the block

Now that I have it off, there's a bunch of RTV left on the block. I sent my brother to pickup some gasket remover, can I spray that stuff safely in that area?

EDIT: Thank you so much slavrenz for the continued support, I owe you a few beers

gasket remover might not work on the RTV. you could probably just lightly use a paint scraper.