oil pan rotting?

[Skid Vicious]

I'm trying to track down a leak and was told that the oil pans rot on most ford trucks. Anyone heard this before? Also, to replace the gasket on the oil pan, the entire engine has to come out? WTF? I'm hoping thats not the case and my leak is somewhere else, but i'm just looking for anyones experiences that are similar to mine.
93 ranger
V6 4.0 4WD

 

[Mutant Pony]

It is a common problem here in the rust belt. I have never seen a 4.0 pan rust out though. I have replaced a few 3.0s, 4.9s, 5.0s and 5.8s. We also have a 7.3 that needs a pan. I have replaced quite a few 2.9 and 4.0 valve covers due to rust.

 

[Mark_88]

The oil pan on my 2.0 was a bit rusty, but I swapped it out for the aluminum pan when I did the 2.3 upgrade...

Never heard of one actually rusting through in an otherwise running vehicle though...especially one that actually leaks oil all over the engine...sort of a self-rust-proofing feature maybe?

 

[MAKG]

Rusting through a 4.0L oil pan would be a nice trick because they are made of ALUMINUM.

Now, 2.9L oil pans are another story entirely.

The engine has to come out for any RBV with 4WD, because there just ain't enough room beneath the oil pan to do anything except swear at it. Some 2.9L service manuals talk about jacking up the engine on wood blocks, but it's a nice way to lose fingers and doesn't work if there is a transmission behind the engine.

Having said that, leaks at the rear main seal, front cover (including front seal), drain plug, and especially oil level sensor, and even valve covers, are commonly mistaken as oil pan leaks.

 

[chittybangbang]

yup mine rusted out a few years back.I know my mechanic put a junk yard ( I think its aluminum)oil pan.

 

[aogden001]

My stepdads Chevy had the same problem at about 12 years old. My Previous Ranger, an 02, had the same problem with the diff. cover. I kept seeing spots in the driveway, when I crawled underneath, you couls push on the cover and it would flex and let the oil seep out. Kind of like a sponge.

Just remember Fords dont leak, they mark their territory.

 

[Skid Vicious]

Rusting through a 4.0L oil pan would be a nice trick because they are made of ALUMINUM.

Now, 2.9L oil pans are another story entirely.

The engine has to come out for any RBV with 4WD, because there just ain't enough room beneath the oil pan to do anything except swear at it. Some 2.9L service manuals talk about jacking up the engine on wood blocks, but it's a nice way to lose fingers and doesn't work if there is a transmission behind the engine.

Having said that, leaks at the rear main seal, front cover (including front seal), drain plug, and especially oil level sensor, and even valve covers, are commonly mistaken as oil pan leaks.

thats what i was thinkin. theres too much oil up high for it to be the oil pan. but i did get the gasket just incase.

 

[swamprat]

Rusting through a 4.0L oil pan would be a nice trick because they are made of ALUMINUM.

Now, 2.9L oil pans are another story entirely.

The engine has to come out for any RBV with 4WD, because there just ain't enough room beneath the oil pan to do anything except swear at it. Some 2.9L service manuals talk about jacking up the engine on wood blocks, but it's a nice way to lose fingers and doesn't work if there is a transmission behind the engine.

Having said that, leaks at the rear main seal, front cover (including front seal), drain plug, and especially oil level sensor, and even valve covers, are commonly mistaken as oil pan leaks.

I dont think they are all aluminum. If it has a auto trany behind it then yeah they are AL. I had a 91 5 sp that had a steel pan under it

 

[TinyBear]

Ford are bad for rotting oil pans i just dont know why they dont go to a fiberglass oil pan like on the big Detroite Diesels i work on. in the 6 years i been pulling wrenches i NEVER needed to replace a pan on a detroite gaskets yes pans no.

I recently replaced the oil pan on our service truck at work (2000 F450 with 7.3PS) And yeah its a PITA but the engine does not have to come right out just lifted a few inches.

 

[2ranger87]

I dont think they are all aluminum. If it has a auto trany behind it then yeah they are AL. I had a 91 5 sp that had a steel pan under it

Show me a 4.0 with a steel oil pan.......ANY 4.0 with a steel pan, regardless of which tranny.......

 

[RangerMan64]

Just remember Fords dont leak, they mark their territory.

This is just too good, I'm going to use this as my signature!

 

[BlackBII]

Every 4.0 I've seen has an aluminum one...

 

[MAKG]

This is just too good, I'm going to use this as my signature!

Too bad it's an older-than-dirt saying about VW Beetles.

 

[PaleBlue90]

Having said that, leaks at the rear main seal, front cover (including front seal), drain plug, and especially oil level sensor, and even valve covers, are commonly mistaken as oil pan leaks.

+1

 

[canyoncritter]

valve covers are very common to leak.

there is also a plug where the dist. "would" have gone. in the back of the the motor.right behind the lower intake.

rear main seal is known to leak too, front seal tend to also.