2.5L ('98-'01) Cheap fix for cracked oil pan?

[Shran]

I acquired a '98 Ranger, 2wd, 2.5L for $100 recently and have got it running, but have discovered that the oil pan is cracked right under the drain plug. Anyone successfully fix something like this before?

My gut instinct is to let as much oil drain as possible over several days (in progress now), flush out the immediate area with brake cleaner, hog out the crack with a grinder and fill it in with JB Weld.

Would normally pull the pan and have it TIG welded but this truck has a litany of other issues and is just totally beat up in every way possible. Just need it to hold oil a little better than it does now, my friend's 16 year old son is looking for a cheap beater first vehicle and this thing is perfect.

This is kinda what the crack looks like, not my pic but you get the idea:

 

[sheep herder]

JB Weld is a good possibility. Getting it clean enough is the hard part.

 

[RonD]

Oil pan doesn't have internal pressure, just the weight of the oil above the crack, which is some but not alot of pressure

I might use an insert like this: https://usercontent2.hubstatic.com/5538505_f1024.jpg

And JB Weld it inplace, that way you can still drain the oil without disturbing the "fix"

 

[Shran]

Hmm that's a good idea Ron. Maybe even one of those Fumoto drain valves.

I bet I could use JB weld as thread sealant and goop on a bunch on the outside too. Seal it up from the outside.

To make things even more interesting it looks like someone tried to helicoil the hole too. What a cluster.

 

[Dirtman]

Use JB weld putty. grind the crack out a bit and use JB fuel tank putty. Its immune to damn near every chemical on earth and will dry even if the surface is dirty or wet. I used it to fix a aluminum trans pan once. It was a temporary fix that ended up permanent. I literally applied it as trans fluid was pouring out and it still stuck and cured.

 

[Shran]

Use JB weld putty. grind the crack out a bit and use JB fuel tank putty.

Are you talking about the "Tankweld" type? I have a couple packages of the "steelstik" kind that I bought to fix something... and Kwik Weld, I have that too. The tankweld one looks like it might be my best bet.

 

[Dirtman]

I lost the packaging but it comes in a tube like this... I THINK its tank weld.

 

[franklin2]

I bet they tried to use a repair drain plug on it. As it was cutting the threads it swelled the hole and cracked the pan. I would take a good look at the crack with the plug tight, and then with the plug out. If the crack spreads open with the plug tight and the closes up with the plug out, it's going to be difficult to repair it. Doing one of those quick drain valve things may be the trick. Screw it in there and jb weld it and the crack at the same time, and never disturb it again. It might hold if you can avoid taking whatever you put in there in and out all the time.

 

[Dirtman]

If you use the putty stuff, knead it until it starts feeling warm or it wont set right...

 

[sheep herder]

If you use the putty stuff, knead it until it starts feeling warm or it wont set right...

Won't it get hard when you knead it?

 

[Dirtman]

Won't it get hard when you knead it?

Go stand in the corner...

 

[Snoranger]

Go stand in the corner...

Until you’re done laughing.

FIFY

 

[sheep herder]

Go stand in the corner...

That's what got me into this mess.

 

[19Walt93]

Get a replacement pan from a junk yard, it will cost peanuts compared to running the engine out of oil when the cheap fix doesn't hold. Unless you're giving it to a kid who will check the oil every day, assuming such a teenager exists.

 

[Shran]

Get a replacement pan from a junk yard, it will cost peanuts compared to running the engine out of oil when the cheap fix doesn't hold. Unless you're giving it to a kid who will check the oil every day, assuming such a teenager exists.

I am with you on this, the cheap fix is definitely not ideal. I am trying not to get too deep in this truck... running, driving and relatively safe is what I'm after. If he doesn't check the oil and blows it up, that'll be his lesson to learn...