Oil Pan gasket tips?

[choke artist 720]

Looking to change the gasket on the oil pan this weekend. It's a new truck to me...any tips on changing the gasket, things to watch for/do while I'm under there? I was thinking of pulling the oil pump and cleaning it up too. I'll change the filter for the first time as well. Thanks.

[AZhitman]

Not much reason to mess with the oil pump unless necessary... Just clean up the sump tube and filter.

After you drop the pan, clean off all the old gasket and funk off the pan and the block... Razor blade, green scrubby pad, and brake cleaner are good for getting a perfect sealing surface. Clean the pan real well with brake cleaner (or gas) and some old rags (or paper towels). Might be a good time to throw a coat of paint on it (I use silver so you can see if there's any leaks).

Put on some gloves - Take your new gasket and a gob of RTV and pull the gasket through your fingers, so that there's a thin, uniform layer on both surfaces. Place the gasket on the pan, put a couple bolts through it to get it started, and mount it back on the block.

Don't crank the bolts down tight, just snug them gently - finger pressure on a short ratchet is plenty. Tighten them in stages, in a circular path around the pan...

That oughta do it!

Welcome aboard, let's see some pics of this 720!

[Rev_D21]

Best tool I ever used to get old pan gasket off was a plastic spackle applicator from Lowe's. The plastic can't damage any of the surfaces and at the same time it does a great job getting the goo off.