Oil pan — removal and installation
Removal
1. Disconnect the cable from the negative terminal of the battery (see Engine electrical systems).
2. Raise the vehicle and support it securely on jack stands, then drain the engine oil and remove the oil filter (see Tune-up and routine maintenance).
3. Remove the oil pan skid plate if equipped.
4. Remove the crossmember from below the oil pan.
5. On 4WD models, remove the front differential carrier (see Driveline).
6. There is an engine wiring harness at the front of the oil pan. Disconnect the harness bracket.
7. Remove the starter motor (see Engine electrical systems). Also remove the plastic bellhousing side covers (see Automatic transmission). Disconnect the transmission cooler line bracket from the side of the oil pan.
8. Disconnect the remaining wiring harness brackets.
9. Disconnect the electrical connector from the oil level sensor, if equipped.
10. Remove the transmission-to-oil pan bolts (see Automatic transmission).
11. Remove the oil pan bolts, then lower the pan from the engine. The pan will probably stick to the engine, so strike the pan with a rubber mallet until it breaks the gasket seal. Carefully slide the oil pan out, to the rear.
Caution: Before using force on the oil pan, be sure all the bolts have been removed.
Installation
12. Wash out the oil pan with solvent. Thoroughly clean the mounting surfaces of the oil pan and engine block of old gasket material and sealer. Wipe the gasket surfaces clean with a rag soaked in brake system cleaner.
Note: On models with a low-oil-level sensor, remove the sensor and install a new sensor upon assembly.
13. Install new 0-ring seals to the oil pan.
14. Apply a 3/16-inch wide, one-inch-long bead of RTV sealant to the corners where the front cover meets the block and at the rear where the rear main cap meets the block. Then attach the new gasket to the pan, install the pan and tighten the bolts/studs finger-tight.
Note: The original oil pan gasket was RTV bead of sealant, but aftermarket gaskets may be available. If there is no gasket, apply a 3/16 (5 mm) wide bead around the sealing surface of the oil pan.
15. Tighten the oil pan bolts to the torque listed in this Chapter’s Specifications (see illustration).
15.15 Oil pan tightening bolt sequence — bolts marked «A» have a lower torque
16. The remainder of installation is the reverse of removal.
17. Add the proper type and quantity of oil (see Tune-up and routine maintenance). Start the engine and check for leaks before placing the vehicle back in service.