pmurray

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?

lucky131969

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.

dougbfresh

Find a service manual and you'll see why $600 might seem like a BARGAIN.

bumble-z

You got that right!

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.

cdkcorvette7

Bill Curlee

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

pmurray

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.

chevylad

You could try not dropping the cradle, but I don't think the pan will drop far enough to get the gasket on. You still have to deal with getting the new gasket around the windage tray. I've dropped the cradle on my car a couple times. I didn't think it was that bad. It never had to go far enough off to disconnect the brake lines, but I don't think you have to go that far down.

StatmanRN

Mine too. I decided I can live with a slight oil leak at the pan gasket until I build a forged engine.

DIXZ

$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!

robert miller

Also check the pan bolts if one is just a little backed off it will let oil come out and make it look like the pan... Robert

DIXZ

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.