If your vehicle is leaving a puddle of fluid everywhere you park, one good way to help identify and locate the leak is to slide a large white sheet of cardboard or paper beneath your vehicle when you park it for the night. After some of the leaking fluid has had time to drip onto the sheet, pull it out and inspect it for what type of fluid it might be and from what area it's dripping. On the vehicle used in this demonstration (Acura Legend) the test led us to suspect a leaking oil-pan gasket -- one of the more common sites for an engine-oil leak. The suspicion was confirmed when we raised the vehicle onto a lift and inspected the bottom of the oil pan (figure A). With any oil leak, ignoring the problem could lead to a much more serious situation involving internal engine damage, so it's important to take care of this repair as quickly as possible. If you do have to delay the repair for any reason, be certain to monitor your oil level closely and keep it topped off whenever you drive. Repairing this problem will involve getting underneath the vehicle, and it can be a messy job, so wear old clothes. For safety, always wear eye protection when working underneath a vehicle. To raise the vehicle so you can work under it, you have several alternatives. The ideal choice is a hydraulic lift that raises the vehicle overhead. Most amateur mechanics, however, rely on a floor jack and jack stands or ramps. If using a jack, park on level ground and engage the parking brake. Jack the vehicle enough to place jack stands under the vehicle's frame. A less costly method is to use ramps. Make sure the ramps are rated to support the weight of your vehicle. Whether using a jack or ramps, chock the rear wheels as added insurance against rolling. Never get under a vehicle supported only by a jack. Always use the jack in combination with jack stands. Important: As with any significant mechanical repair, it's advisable to check your service manual to find out whether there are any special procedures or precautions specific to your vehicle. The basic steps in this repair are outlined below. Materials: Vehicle service manual
Socket wrench
Torque wrench
Replacement gasket
Replacement oil and oil filter
Oil catch basin
Gasket scraper
Rubber mallet - Allow the engine to cool before beginning work.
- For safety, disconnect the negative battery cable.
- On many vehicles, you may need to remove the undercarriage splash shield for easier access to the location of the oil pan. On this particular vehicle, we also removed the longitudinal cross member (figure B) and the exhaust system. Check the vehicle service manual for any specific instructions if these steps are required.
- Along with repairing the oil pan, you'll want to drain the oil and do a full oil change. With an oil catch basin in place beneath the oil pan, remove the drain-plug from the oil pan (figure C) and allow all of the oil to drain out.
- Next, remove the oil filter (figure D). Oil will spill out as the filter is removed, so be prepared to get dirty.
- Remove the pan bolts (figure E) that hold the oil pan in place (there are quite a few of them) and lower the bottom of the pan. If the bolts are removed and the pan is still stuck, use a rubber mallet (or a hammer and a block of wood) to gently tap it and loosen it.
- With the pan removed, carefully remove the gasket. Depending on its condition, it may come off in one piece, or it may break into pieces.
- Use a scraper to clean off any gasket residue from the seal on the pan-bottom. Then use a parts washer to clean the pan both inside and out (figure F). Oil pans are generally a stamped-steel construction, so you can be fairly rigorous when scraping and cleaning them. You do want to clean the outside of the pan as well as inside since you'll want a clean outer surface when you reinstall the pan. This will help you determine whether there are any subsequent leaks.
- The second half of the cleaning job is the bottom of the engine block. As with the pan, you'll want to scrape away any residual gasket material or other debris (figure G). Unlike the pan, however, the engine bottom is aluminum, so use caution not to gouge or scratch the metal.
- In addition to the upper seal on the engine block, clean the area of the oil pickup (figure H) as well as the area surrounding where the oil pan is mounted. Again, this will be helpful in checking to make certain there aren't leaks after the pan is reinstalled. Also, from this vantage point you can inspect the bottom tip of your engine's dipstick where it normally resides (figure I) -- something you don't often see.
- With the pan thoroughly cleaned and the new gasket in place around the lip of the pan, use a torque wrench to reinstall the pan onto the bottom of the engine block (figure J). In the case of our sample vehicle, there are four alignment screws that help hold the pan in the proper position as you tighten all of the mounting bolts.
Important: Reinstalling the pan requires that the cover bolts be tightened back down to the proper torque specifications. Check the service manual for your vehicle to get these specs. - With the pan reinstalled securely, install a new oil filter and then replace the oil.
Tip: Use some motor oil to lubricate the filter gasket before installing it (figure K). This results in a better seal, and it prevents the new filter from sticking to the block when it heats up. - Reattach the negative battery cable and start the engine. Check for any leaks.
Click hereto download a PDF illustration showing the engine's oil-pan gasket.
Illustrations may be viewed by using 
RESOURCES :
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Trouble-Free Car Care
Author: Dan Ramsey
ISBN: 0028635833
Alpha Books
Auto Repair for Dummies
Author: Deanna Sclar
ISBN: 0764550896
Automotive Parts Washer
Model: 660N
The Automotive Parts Washer
is available from
Safety Kleen Corp.
1000 N. Randall Rd.
Elgin, IL 60123
Toll-free: 800-699-5740
Web-site:
www.safety-kleen.com
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