Oil pan gasket replacement question

[straycat]

Ok, my buddy said he went in for an oil change and 60,000 mile service for his 02 Ranger 2wd 4.0. While he was there one of the tech's said that noticed he has some pan gasket sticking out a bit right at the font of the oil pan. He was told this is sign that the gasket needs to be replaced (with a better steel type gasket). Tire Kingdom wants like $800.00 to do the repair job. It is listed as an 8 hr job. Is this the right price for this job? How much trouble is it to to this swap?? If I was not disabled I would help him do the job at the house.

Straycat

 

[TheTopher]

I've been into the Vodka tonight so there's a fair chance I'm wrong, but it sounds like "Tire Kingdom" just wants your buddy to cough up $800.00 for something he doesn't need.

 

[michowski]

Does it leak?

 

[adsm08]

The gasket sticking out CAN be a sign of needing a new one. Then again it might not. First question you need to ask is: Is it leaking?

I don't know what the book time on it is, but if it isn't leaking, let it go. The 2wds are a lot easier to do than the 4wds though. Sounds like they are giving you the 4x4 time.

 

[r1hatman]

I've been into the Vodka tonight so there's a fair chance I'm wrong, but it sounds like "Tire Kingdom" just wants your buddy to cough up $800.00 for something he doesn't need.

Topher you kill me!

Sounds like BS to me! If you don't have to raise the motor it should be done fairly easily. Like in a couple of hours. I would use I cork gasket too. I have always had good luck with cork. You have to trace the oe gasket out and cut it out yourself.

 

[willievhook]

My buddy has to get a new pan gasket for his 93 F150, six hour job he was told, 612 bucks. But, like everyone said, if it isn't leaking, I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[exbass94]

OK, this is a 2002, so it's a SOHC 4.0. If they're talking about the lower pan, it is EXTREMELY easy to replace and does NOT require lifting the engine at all. Simply remove the bolts and take the pan out. It's a 5 minute job, start to finish.

The upper pan on the other hand....

 

[straycat]

Ok, I got more info now....it is the lower pan at the front of the motor and I looked at it just about 1 hr ago. My buddy stopped by so I can see what it looks like. Darn!! A lot of stuff is in the way of that oil pan. I can see some weeping of oil at the front of the pan and it is running back toward the middle of the oil pan. It is not dripping on the ground at this time. He said he sees no drips in the garage area where he parks it. I just called his Tire Kingdom and they said they have to lift the motor up and that includes the auto transmission as well to get the whole pan off, clean the pan and remove all crud from the gasket marerial and then put the new gasket (steel type replacement) and reinstall everything!!! So maybe this is going to cost some dough!!! I hope mine never needs this!!!! I just turned 71,000 miles on my 99 Ranger!!! AHHHHHHH

Straycat

 

[LearjetMinako]

I got a feeling that the shop is pulling your legs off. If remember correctly what the oil pan looks like for a 4.0L, it should darn easy to do. And should not require any lifting of the engine. I say get the parts yourself, along with some sealant, and have a go at it.

 

[straycat]

My buddy is going to my Good Year shop this afternoon. I called them and they said they will put it on the lift and see what is going on. They told me it is not cheap to to the oil pan gasket!!! But they have to look at it first to see what needs to come off our out!!!!


Straycat

 

[exbass94]

Is the pan you're talking about?

Like I said, you really shouldn't have to lift the engine at all to get that out.

THIS guy did it on his Explorer easily without lifting the engine. And I remember laying under my truck one day and specifically thinking to myself, "Man that oil pan would be sooo easy to replace if I ever had to do it."

 

[straycat]

No, it does not look like that. It is deeper then that I would say. I should have taken a shot with my cell phone while we were under the truck.

Straycat

 

[adsm08]

They are probably looking at the Sub-block, which a lot of guys do, mistakenly, call the oil pan.

The actual pan itself is what exbass posted, but on the SOHC 4.0s (I can't remember if the OHV ones have it too) there is a second part, that roughly forms what the tall sides of other oil pans would be, called the sub-block. It is a bit harder to remove while in the truck, and is an actual structural component of the engine that helps the main block to hold it's shape.