Fixing a damaged oil pan

Well awhile back I had a stripped my oil pan drain plug trying to get it off. Ended up having to cut a notch in it with a cutting wheel and getting it off with a huge pry bar. Problem is that the cutting wheel put a small notch (1-2mm) in the pan right under where the drain plug seal sits. So now I have this annoying oil leak that is very slight but now is leaving a small spot in the driveway since the last oil change I performed.

I really dont want to pull the pan off because it would require alot of work for a small thing. Im wondering if I should try grinding it down or JB weld to fill in the small notch.

Im afraid if I grind it down I will not have a even surface under the drain plug and it will leak/seep all around the plug.

Anyone have any ideas?

Short of pulling it off, your only real option is JB Weld (that I can think of right now). Dont use permatex dont wanna risk that shit getting in your pickup (as it never really dries correctly).

I used jb weld on my race car’s oil pan when it bottomed out and put a nice gash in it. As long as you let it dry it works fine and to this day I still havent had a problem.

I had a small pinhole leak in an oilpan from rust through that I had great luck using JB Weld. I held for over a year and was still holding when I replaced the pan.

In your case though, what about just getting a rubber or teflon washer, a little bigger than stock, so it would seal better?

to suggest something different. Drain the pan, maybe put a dab of silicon gasket sealer after cleaning the surface.

Give it some time to set up before refilling the oil. In theory it would work, but i can’t verify since in never actually tried.

[quote=“LAFENGAS,post:5,topic:28113"”]

to suggest something different. Drain the pan, maybe put a dab of silicon gasket sealer after cleaning the surface.

Give it some time to set up before refilling the oil. In theory it would work, but i can’t verify since in never actually tried.

[/quote]

not a bad idea, but for a permanent fix though? i’m not so sure.

i’m going to have to go on the JB weld side of things.
take the pan off
clean it real nice
put the JB weld on
let it really dry
sand it down a bit so it’s smooth
paint the entire pan

no one will ever notice your “brand new” oil pan

If he’s going to pull the pan, I’d get it welded, not bother with JB Weld.

Im not big on using JB weld but in this case maybe its the best solution. I guess I could fill in the notch with it and cover it with a copper washer. The washer would just be permanently on the pan then.

The only thing that is going to be difficult is getting the area clean and dry since its at the bottom of the drain plug. Maybe Ill drain all the oil out, then jack the car up on one side so any extra oil stays in the side of the pan and doesnt keep dripping out.

use high temp rtv… worked for me in a similar situation

yeah if I pull the pan I would just get a new one, or get it machined down if I could find someone to do that.

I just dont want to do it because it would required me to a rather large tear down to get it out.

[quote=“POOPRA,post:10,topic:28113"”]

yeah if I pull the pan I would just get a new one, or get it machined down if I could find someone to do that.

I just dont want to do it because it would required me to a rather large tear down to get it out.

[/quote]

had a feeling … sucks when oil pans aren’t that easy to get off.

if it’s that small of a hole maybe the rtv might be something to try. :gotme:

[quote=“Freek,post:6,topic:28113"”]

not a bad idea, but for a permanent fix though? i’m not so sure.

[/quote]

no, not as a permanent fix. It would need to be done evertime the oil plug was removed.

Or do it once and use an oil pump/vacuum to do oil changes.

Honestly, I really like the idea of coating a washer with JB weld on the oilpan side and then using the drain plug to snug it into place.

  1. The washer makes a nice smooth surface for the plug to seat against.
  2. The plug will make sure the washer is at the perfect angle.
  3. The jbweld being compressed between the washer and the pan will fill in any imperfection.

Just be careful you don’t jb weld the plug in place.

[quote=“JayS,post:13,topic:28113"”]

Just be careful you don’t jb weld the plug in place.

[/quote]

haha, that’d be potentially shitty.

you cant just get a self tapping plug thats 1-2mm larger than the one you have now?

Either ^^ if there is enough or a sealing area. Or JB Weld with a washer, it seems to work great on oil pans for some reason.

[quote=“soopa7fly,post:15,topic:28113"”]

you cant just get a self tapping plug thats 1-2mm larger than the one you have now?

[/quote]

from what i gather it’s a notch that’s 1-2mm deep, not long (could be 1/4" long). I’d think one of the last resorts past pulling the pan would be anything that potentially puts metal shavings in your oil.

-1 on drilling/tapping

the self tapping plugs are supposed to be designed so that the shavings come out, not go in. i used one and 2 oil changes later i have yet to find any metal.

jb weld worked great on Joes old Teg when he bottomed out and cracked the pan a few years ago

Im going to try some high temp RTV. I had a fumoto valve on the car before, but took it off to see if a regular drain plug would work better sealing the leak. Ill throw it back on to see if it will seal it up with some RTV.

If that doesnt work I will try JB weld