Oil pan gasket replacement questions

[plasticman]

Hi all,
I was wondering how hard is will be to replace the oil pan and timing cover gaskets. My L98 is leaking some from the front of the engine. My guess is these two are the culprits. I tightened the oil pan bolts a little, and they turned at least a 1/4 turn, but now my oil pressure is dropping to 26 when I come to a stop. How hard is this job? Can I get the oil pan out without pulling the engine?

 

[Hib Halverson]

It is highly unlikely that tightening your oil pan bolts caused your oil pressure to change.

26 psi at idle is about normal if you're using a 5W30.

I'd tighten all those pan bolts along with the front cover bolts, then wash the underside of the engine with a pressure blaster then monitor the locations where you saw leaks to see if the leaks still exist.

 

[boomdriver]

Hi all,
I was wondering how hard is will be to replace the oil pan and timing cover gaskets. My L98 is leaking some from the front of the engine. My guess is these two are the culprits. I tightened the oil pan bolts a little, and they turned at least a 1/4 turn, but now my oil pressure is dropping to 26 when I come to a stop. How hard is this job? Can I get the oil pan out without pulling the engine?

According to the FSM, it can be done, and I have seen it done inframe. I had a chunk of road debris rip my pan open one day and a local general automotive shop replaced the pan no problem.
The books says to remove the cross braces that cut across the front corners of the pan and then remove bolts....pretty simple. I have been considering doing mine to install a new oil pump.

The timing cover will be MUCH tougher. Lots more to remove before getting to the cover bolts. I'd get a FSM before doing that one. If either cover is removed, its a good idea to replace whatever moving parts are accessable, like oil pumps or chains. Its not alot of money to do when you;re already in there and new parts are always a good thing.

HH is right on when he suggest a good cleaning to identify the leak before tearing into things. It may be something else leaking. jack the front up slightly, get the rain suit on and lay along the edges of the car with the wash wand to blow off as much crud and wet stuff as you can find. I do that every couple months and the payoff comes in the form of easy and clean repairs later.
The only time the oil pan can effect oil pressure is when the pick-up screen is too close to the pan bottom, then it starves the pump. That did'nt change in your motor by tightening pan bolts. 20+ lbs at warm idle is fine. 20 lbs at freeway speed is questionable. Always ck the press sender before looking at the bottom end if a change in pressure happened suddenly.

 

[plasticman]

Thanks guys. I have oil pressure at driving speeds, it's around 55-72, it fluctuates some, but not drastic. I'm running 10W-30 Mobil 1 synthetic. Maybe I just haven't paid too much attention to the pressure at stops. I'm thinking I may make this my winter project, new gaskets and oil pump. Car has 131,000 on it, probably time to do it! It's not leaking profusely, just a drop here and there, but the pan and front cover are damp. And that bothers me!

 

[GRAND SPORT #12]

I think your oil pressure is ok if your getting 50 or higher psi at speed thats good at a stop and idle it can drop low. hotter running engine will lower oil psi at idle. If the leak bothers you it may be a good weekend project to replae the pan and front crank seal. my front seal also leaks a little so i will do the same replacement project in the next few weeks