Oil Pan Replacement Cost?

[Samhtek]

How easy (or hard) of a task would it be to replace an oil pan in a 1990 Ranger 4.0L?

What would the average cost be if I took into a mechanic for the repair?

Thanks.

 

[97ranger4x4]

You know I will let someone else chime in, but from what I have read, I believe you do have to pull the motor a little bit to get the clearance to pull the old pan and replace it. Why do you need to replace it? Got a hole?

 

[zedx]

if it's like mine, it looks like there are two torx screws close to the rear main. may be able to get them out with the proper tool but probably easier to drop the trans.

 

[Samhtek]

I have a leak that is definitely coming from the bottom of the engine. I just had my valve cover gasket and engine pressure switch replaced (they were thought to be the problem) and the same amount of oil is still dripping on the pavement. It sounds like either the oil pan AND/OR the oil pan gasket is the problem. Your thoughts?

 

[Jason]

On my 2004 4.0 it was a 20 minute job. Pan slide out over the crossmember. YMMV but that is what I watched my favorite tech at work do.

 

[MAKG]

I have a leak that is definitely coming from the bottom of the engine. I just had my valve cover gasket and engine pressure switch replaced (they were thought to be the problem) and the same amount of oil is still dripping on the pavement. It sounds like either the oil pan AND/OR the oil pan gasket is the problem. Your thoughts?

Make DANG sure the leak isn't in the oil plug or level sender, as both of those will be $50 repairs instead of $800 repairs.

 

[woodyedmiston]

No one has mentioned the rear main seal yet?

 

[Big Jim M]

I will! By far the most common leak is the rear main seal. This leak is sometimes caused by internal blowby and the pcv cannot take care of the amount of blowby in the engine. This can be caused by the pcv being clogged and not able to do it's job.
Take the cover off the oil intake and start the engine.. Look for smoke coming out the open cap to see if there is excessive blowby in the engine.
But whatever you do..DON'T repair anything until you find WHAT to repair.
Big Jim

 

[MAKG]

I won't bother, because anyone who would pull the engine over an oil pan would be well advised to look the WHOLE engine over for leaks of any kind.

Seal leaks often get oil on the flywheel and/or harmonic balancer, which is pretty difficult for the oil pan to do.

 

[Samhtek]

All great information. I had a mechanic look AGAIN and the result...

Rear main oil seal.

I just wish they spotted that first before I spent the money on replacing the valve cover gasket and engine pressure sender. Speaking to many other mechanics, it looks like the labor is the pricey part. The part itself is relatively cheap but the labor (4-6 hours) is the killer. I'm getting quotes between $450-$700. Does that sound about right?

 

[Big Jim M]

Sam!

All great information. I had a mechanic look AGAIN and the result...

Rear main oil seal.

I just wish they spotted that first before I spent the money on replacing the valve cover gasket and engine pressure sender. Speaking to many other mechanics, it looks like the labor is the pricey part. The part itself is relatively cheap but the labor (4-6 hours) is the killer. I'm getting quotes between $450-$700. Does that sound about right?

It's an 18 year old engine.. If blowby is causing the rear main leak, putting a new one in there WILL NOT STOP THE LEAK! You will simply have a new seal and it WILL LEAK. Please check for unusual blowby before spending themoney.
Big JIm

 

[Samhtek]

I guess I don't understand what "blowby" is. Can you please explain? Thanks again.

 

[Big Jim M]

I guess I don't understand what "blowby" is. Can you please explain? Thanks again.

Blowby is the amount of the burning fuel's pressure that leaks past the rings and out of the exaust stream into the oiling area of the engine. This is usually caused by WORN engine rings. However it can also be caused by broken rings or a scored cylinder.
A small amount of this blowby is common in ALL engines. The PCV system takes that small amount and places it into the intake system to be burned all over again.
If the PCV system is clogged or OVERWHELMED with blowby, pressure builds up inside the oil area of the engine and THIS pressure forces itself AND oil out of the rear main seal..
Big JIm

 

[Samhtek]

I see. Well I took the advice of removing the oil cap and starting the truck. No smoke was seen at all. Actually, a slight suction what noticed (which I think is a good thing). So does this lead to a bad main oil seal?

 

[Big Jim M]

I see. Well I took the advice of removing the oil cap and starting the truck. No smoke was seen at all. Actually, a slight suction what noticed (which I think is a good thing). So does this lead to a bad main oil seal?

Good job Sam! Now you need to back that up by finding the leak.. Should be rather easy for you to crawl under there and look closely with a light..
Big JIm