How to change an oil pan?
 

So whoever changed my oil last stripped the threads in the drain plug and i have to change the oil pan. I ordered a pan and it doesn't look to difficult. Does anyone have any suggestions on what to do? Any input would be great. Thanks. Oh yeah I have a 1997 Honda Civic HX 2dr

Re: How to change an oil pan?
 

2x post. sorry

Re: How to change an oil pan?
 

jack up the car, and unbolt the pan, you can buy stripd nut take'r off'r sockets.
use vice grips or sumthing. and replace that.

or. go back and say "hey!! fix this junk you messed up!!"

and then do your own work after that

Re: How to change an oil pan?
 

First, let the car sit over night so most of the oil has dripped into the pan. If you try to do it after the engine has been started, even just a few seconds, it will drip oil for HOURS. Working with it like this will make you hate life.

You will have to remove the exhaust manifold/A pipe combo.
Get a new exhaust manifold gasket, and a donut gasket. It's also smart to have new exhaust hardware on hand (bolts/springs). Not to mention a new oil pan gasket and some RTV.

Pics for reference:

Donut Gasket + Exhaust Hardware

Re: How to change an oil pan?
 

Look here.

Re: How to change an oil pan?
 

Except that you DO NOT need to separate the A pipe from the manifold to do this job.

Re: How to change an oil pan?
 

its easy you dont need that bolt remover, just go buy a new oil plug bolt, use a vice grip to take off the old one to drain engine oil, throw the old plug away, go get a new oil pan gasket to go with the new oil pan, replace, fill oil, then done. i didnt need to take off my exhaust to do mine, and i have a 4-2-1 header. its like a 3 out of 10 difficulty, 1 being easy, 10 being its too hard.

Re: How to change an oil pan?
 

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Re: How to change an oil pan?
 

It's really easy. Just alot of bolts.

Re: How to change an oil pan?
 

I was thinking the same.

Re: How to change an oil pan?
 

if you cannot get under a car and immediately recognize how to remove the oil pan.. i'd STRONGLY discourage you from attempting to remove and replace the failed part.

what you could do is go to an auto parts store and get a drain plug meant for stripped pans, they'll have them specifically for hondas as it is such a common problem. you then install the new drain plug same way as you would cut threads into a bare hole with a tap. (see google for specific instructions)

but again, if you aren't real savvy mechanically speaking.. and you do this wrong, you will be replacing the pan or be stuck with a perpetually leaking drain plug.


teh reeding comprehension... they does not haves it.

Re: How to change an oil pan?
 

Holy reading comprehension, batman!

Re: How to change an oil pan?
 

You don't have to change the pan,if you can get the old drain plug out you can either try a stock new replacement or as someone else said you can buy over sized drain pluds at just about any parts store.

If you can't get the plug out you can try to drive a screwdriver between the oilpan and the drain plug to put some pressure on it and it will most likely come out then,when you have the plug out you can check the threads on the pan itself to see if they are good.

Good threads in the pan = stock pan bolt
Bad threads in the pan = over sized pan bolt.

If both of those fail then look into changing the pan.

Re: How to change an oil pan?
 

It just too messy work. Oil get into the face and all over the ground.

Re: How to change an oil pan?
 

That's why it's best to let it sit over night so almost all of the oil is in the pan and not dripping out of the crankcase like crazy, for hours.
Last time I did this there was literally only a few drops that dripped down.

A lot of times with a customer's car, this is impossible to do for obvious reasons.