Need to replace oil pan gasket
#1
Racer
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Need to replace oil pan gasket
My brother has a 2003 Z06 and would like to replace the leaking oil pan gasket. A local dealer quoted him $600.00 to do this. Seems nuts.
Has anyone done this themselves?
What is required?
Has anyone done this themselves?
What is required?
#2
Tech Contributor
...and yes, others have done it themselves. I'm sure there are threads that discuss it if you search. You have to drop the front cradle, which constitues the bulk of the time/labor.
#4
Le Mans Master
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Do as Lucky said to find where it is actually leaking from.
I really doubt if it's the pan gasket.
Could be as simple as a leak from the bottom of an after market catch can (if so equipped)
Good luck.
#6
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CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
That sounds about right, considering the amount of work that involved. Just be damn sure it's really the gasket. I would degrease the engine with simple green, add dye to the oil, and go over with a black light to verify.
...and yes, others have done it themselves. I'm sure there are threads that discuss it if you search. You have to drop the front cradle, which constitues the bulk of the time/labor.
...and yes, others have done it themselves. I'm sure there are threads that discuss it if you search. You have to drop the front cradle, which constitues the bulk of the time/labor.
100% on the mark!
Do as Lucky said and find where it is actually leaking from. Wipe EVERYTHING down and go from there.
I really doubt if it's the pan gasket.
If you ever examine a LS oil pan gasket, you will think TWICE about blaming it for leaking. Hell, it’s an aluminum frame/O ring seal! Unless you have gasket termites,,, I would look elsewhere for the leak.
My 02 Z developed a harmonic damper seal leak and you would have sworn that the oil pan had a hole in it somewhere.
The lip seal went hard and cut the damper sealing area and there was oil everywhere:
So,,,,,,,,,,, save yourself some time and cash and look elsewhere FIRST.
Heck, re-torque the pan bolts first if nothing else. They do get loose over time.
An oil pressure sensor can leak and cause a real mess also
Bill
#7
Racer
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The pan is in plain view. Just behind the oil drain plug. Why would you have to drop the cradle?
Unless we are talking about something else.
This thingy:
http://tech.corvettecentral.com/wp-c...ntenance-4.jpg
Thanks for the fast and good responses. I will let you know what we find out.
Unless we are talking about something else.
This thingy:
http://tech.corvettecentral.com/wp-c...ntenance-4.jpg
Thanks for the fast and good responses. I will let you know what we find out.
Last edited by pmurray; 05-18-2012 at 04:06 PM.
#8
The pan is in plain view. Just behind the oil drain plug. Why would you have to drop the cradle?
Unless we are talking about something else.
This thingy:
http://tech.corvettecentral.com/wp-c...ntenance-4.jpg
Thanks for the fast and good responses. I will let you know what we find out.
Unless we are talking about something else.
This thingy:
http://tech.corvettecentral.com/wp-c...ntenance-4.jpg
Thanks for the fast and good responses. I will let you know what we find out.
#10
Burning Brakes
$600 sounds reasonable if you are going to have someone do it for you!
If you and your brother are handy with cars it can be done in your garage.
I have done it on jack stands by myself.
It is a lot of work, but if you pay attention to the details, you should be able to do it in 8 - 10 hours.
get the car up to where you can get under it and support with stands, support the engine in whatever way you feel comfortable with. Drop the front cradle. (I removed the rack from the cradle before dropping it, and supported it.)
Now you have access to the pan. Remove the bolts and it will drop out of the way.
Replace gasket and redo the above procedure in reverse.
As stated above, be very certain that you really want to replace this gasket!
If you and your brother are handy with cars it can be done in your garage.
I have done it on jack stands by myself.
It is a lot of work, but if you pay attention to the details, you should be able to do it in 8 - 10 hours.
get the car up to where you can get under it and support with stands, support the engine in whatever way you feel comfortable with. Drop the front cradle. (I removed the rack from the cradle before dropping it, and supported it.)
Now you have access to the pan. Remove the bolts and it will drop out of the way.
Replace gasket and redo the above procedure in reverse.
As stated above, be very certain that you really want to replace this gasket!
#11
Team Owner
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That sounds about right, considering the amount of work that involved. Just be damn sure it's really the gasket. I would degrease the engine with simple green, add dye to the oil, and go over with a black light to verify.
...and yes, others have done it themselves. I'm sure there are threads that discuss it if you search. You have to drop the front cradle, which constitues the bulk of the time/labor.
...and yes, others have done it themselves. I'm sure there are threads that discuss it if you search. You have to drop the front cradle, which constitues the bulk of the time/labor.
#12
Burning Brakes
Don't forget that the 2003 has a two piece pan and what is pictured is the lower piece only. This is a no brainer and very easy to replace.
The pan is in plain view. Just behind the oil drain plug. Why would you have to drop the cradle?
Unless we are talking about something else.
This thingy:
http://tech.corvettecentral.com/wp-c...ntenance-4.jpg
Thanks for the fast and good responses. I will let you know what we find out.
Unless we are talking about something else.
This thingy:
http://tech.corvettecentral.com/wp-c...ntenance-4.jpg
Thanks for the fast and good responses. I will let you know what we find out.