Changing oil pan gasket on a turbo

[Tachometer]

Ugh...after working on the suspension for WEEKS I noticed something else wrong...a leak from the oil pan gasket.

 

It's right up front, right above the crossover pipe from the exhaust.

 

I took a look under there, did some research here and discovered that this isn't a 5 minute job.

 

I've either got to lift the engine or lower that crossmember.

 

Since I don't have a hoist, what is the best way to go about doing this?

 

I suppose I could put the car on jacks to give me room under it, and lift the engine with my jack. But I'm not sure where to jack it from.

 

And if I did lower the crossmember...where should I support the car? With this car I haven't quite figured out the "best" places to put jacks.

 

Damn....I'm sooooo close to getting this thing on the road! Front air suspension = working. Rear still not totally cooperating. Brakes need to be bled. Oil gasket needs replacing. Everything else (fingers crossed) OK!

 

I'm heading off to work, I'll check up here later on when I get back. Thanks in advance!

[Skip]

Tach,

I don't want to be a cur monger but the leaks I have had

on my EA82T's (4 to date) from that location have not been the oil

pan gasket.

 

Mine have all been the front seal on the crankshaft.

 

I also have had the oil pump to block seal leak.

 

The oil pressure sender leak.

 

But the oil pan generally leaks elsewhere.

 

Hope I'm wrong, I believe changing the pan gasket

(except for removing the old gasket) is an easier job.

 

There are two bolts in the rear that require a stubby hand and socket driver.

Some have done it with extensions.

 

If you choose to raise the engine (I use an engine hoist) besure to remove the

dogbone (pitching stopper to some). Have the car supported on jack stands

under the pseudo frame rails.

[rallyruss]

skip may be correct about the source of your leak not being the oil pan gasket.

 

I would clean it really good with brake clean and run it to make sure where its from.

 

yeah the oil pan job kind of sucks in the vehicle. I have done it before with out a hoist and more recently with a hoist. with out was a pain. with is better but you have less room to

 

as for jack stand points I usually use the mounting points for the support rods that run up to the control arm (forgot the technical name).

 

I notice you dont live too far from me. if you need help or an enging hoist let me know. I have torn into a good share of EA82 motors and may be able to lend a hand.

[idosubaru]

oil pan gasket definitely won't keep your car from running. like they said, check things out before replacing it as it could be something else. you can also go around and tighten the bolts to the oil pan gasket. tightening the bolts can reduce clearance that develps over the years.

 

a jack and some 2x4's are all you need to do the pan gasket. an annoying job and they like to leak soon after replacement anyway because the oil pan itself is thin and deformed at the bolt holes and generally just hard to get a good seal.

 

i would stop thinking about the oil pan gasket at the moment. clean it all up and run it, see where the oil is coming from.

[Tachometer]

I'm pretty sure it is the oil pan gasket...which I suppose is good news/bad news.

 

I got underneath the car with some de-greaser...sprayed the living dailylights out of it, and washed it all down...even got in with a rag for the trouble spots (damn that was a messy job).

 

I jacked it up and crawled underneath while it was idling...and watched.

 

I could see it coming out right up near the front of the engine, right along a 2 inch line above the exhaust as it crosses over.

 

Knowing this car I've probably got another leak somewhere else too, and should honestly pull the engine and just do the whole durn thing...damnit. But I really really really don't want to do that.

 

I haven't driven the car since I noticed this leak, so I haven't put a lot of pressure on the system. I "should" have it up and running within a couple days and will give it a more careful look over once it has been up to normal driving pressures. Hopefully it is just the oil pan gasket...but you people are probably right.

 

Thanks for the offer to help rallyruss...I may take you up on that in a bit!

 

Oh yeah...I did unscrew the majority of bolts I could get to, cleaned 'em up, cleaned the pan up...cleaned everything up I could...and put it all back together. Some of those bolts were really loose...I could undo 'em with my fingers. We shall see!

[rallyruss]

the old cork gaskets get rock hard and just dont seal well ein if you retighten the bolts.

 

if the pan gets deformed you can use a socket and chunk of wood to tap down the high spots around the bolt holes.

 

another trick I have used is appying just straight ultra grey permatex to the pan and bolting it up. works really well. thats how many other cars come from the factory.