Dented oil pan VS engine longevity

[Infinitiguy19]

It turns out my oil pan is dented and I have no idea how it happened. The oil pressure light stays on for nearly a second some times after starting but the idle is fairly smooth. But its not perfect (Rock solid) but their are many causes of that. But as we all know the most engine wear occurs at startup.

So depending on the location of the dent on the oil pan, could a engine see high millage numbers?

[elwesso]

It turns out my oil pan is dented and I have no idea how it happened. The oil pressure light stays on for nearly a second some times after starting but the idle is fairly smooth. But its not perfect (Rock solid) but their are many causes of that. But as we all know the most engine wear occurs at startup.

So depending on the location of the dent on the oil pan, could a engine see high millage numbers?

I would say that if you expect to see high mileage you need to replace your oil pan. The oil pickup is very close to the bottom of the oil pan so I would say if its dented in any way you could be compromising things. Z32 guys see the same thing because many times people set engines down on their oil pans during a swap, and not thinking they run the engine on low oil pressure eventually ruining the bottom end...

The main thing is to know where the dent is. There is circle on the bottom of the oil pan, and thats where the pickup sits.

[maxnix]

To avoid engine lubrication starvation, the oil pickup is a little less than ¼" off the bottom of the pan, so any indentation in that area can be evidenced by the symptoms you are observing.

If you must drive it, drive it like a Prius and replace ASAP!. Oh, this is not easy either and the best source discussing it is one of Tangalora's gold standard posts.

[qship96]

I say try the redneck way of attempting a fix before going through the $$$$ and time to replace the oil pan- just jb weld/epoxy a wooden dowel to the bottom of the pan and pull like a dentist, maybe you can pop that dent out? 18 year old cars deserve a little home engineering occasionally!!!!

[elwesso]

I say try the redneck way of attempting a fix before going through the $$$$ and time to replace the oil pan- just jb weld/epoxy a wooden dowel to the bottom of the pan and pull like a dentist, maybe you can pop that dent out? 18 year old cars deserve a little home engineering occasionally!!!!

I like that idea!!! Whats the worst that can happen, you have some left over JB weld or epoxy left on the oil pan!

I also saw no mention of probably the most obvious thing... Checking the oil pressure! Get yourself an oil pressure gauge..

You can get a 1/8in BSPT to 1/8NPT adapter so use a standard oil pressure gauge.. I am thinking about installing an oil pressure gauge on my car sometime..

[OwnerCS]

I say try the redneck way of attempting a fix before going through the $$$$ and time to replace the oil pan- just jb weld/epoxy a wooden dowel to the bottom of the pan and pull like a dentist, maybe you can pop that dent out? 18 year old cars deserve a little home engineering occasionally!!!!

Cool idea Qship! That's got to be one of those body shop tricks..

[BadQ45t]

I wish the Q had come with the oil pressure gauge. My old Z has one and my 05' XTerra has one, why did they start to ommit them on all high performance sedans in the 90's? My friends got a 540i and it was ommited on that car too.

[qship96]

omitted to save room on the dash panel{ one less gauge to take up space, same with voltmeter} simple to replace present oil pressure switch with a sender that would allow a proper gauge........I would love to add a oil pressure/temp gauge, volts, and trans temp gauges if only there were a proper place to mount the gauges without it looking tacky like so many ricers with the A pillar setups.

[elwesso]

I was thinking about trying to figure out a way to replace the stock temp gauge with something clean looking that would mount in the gauge cluster and you could cycle through many different settings like engine temp, oil temp, oil pressure, volts and whatever else you might want.

I agree with the A pillar things.. I never liked how they looked, however I have seen some that look better than others. I dont mind the single gauge pods, but having 3 gauges right in your face is a little much for me.

[Q451990]

Even better would be figuring out how to integrate all of that information into the text display area. I'd much rather have a scrolling update with the engine temp, trans. temp, oil pressure, etc. than the dual trip meters

Heath

[maxnix]

Don't forget Sijoko's gauges in the console's ashtray cubby.

[masoQist]

omitted to save room on the dash panel{ one less gauge to take up space, same with voltmeter} simple to replace present oil pressure switch with a sender that would allow a proper gauge........I would love to add a oil pressure/temp gauge, volts, and trans temp gauges if only there were a proper place to mount the gauges without it looking tacky like so many ricers with the A pillar setups.

I know the gauges look a little blingy, but I'm otherwise happy with how this came out.

[elwesso]

Is that just one of those single DIN 3 gauge pods? I like it, if I ever got a new HU that would be the way I would go.

[qship96]

paint the gauge bezels black, and it matches pretty well- even the illumination color seems to match the Q stock gauges- not to blingy at all!!!!!

[OwnerCS]

Nice!

Referencing this thread about oil pressure sender location.

post4496637.html?hilit=oil sender switch#p4496637

[masoQist]

Don't want to further hijack this thread, so I made a new one:

single-din-head-unit-and-gauge-cluster- ... 18718.html