Hello I've had some bad luck last night. I was changing the front shocks. Jacked up the car by the middle of the strut brace. At some point it rolled forward and the jack pad ended up in the oil pan. It dug in about an inch and now my oil idiot light is on, I think I have to drop the pan. Is the oil pickup tube dislodged? Do I have to drop the center link to remove the oil pan? 1970 200i6 engine.
That brace is nowhere nearly strong enough to support weight of car. As far as center link, easy enough to unbolt idler from right frame rail, should give enough clearance.
Thank you. I wanted to check the ball joints while at it and put jack stands under the control arms. Just bad luck... the brace held up fine and , amazingly, the original 50 yo ball joints are tight.. I thought I would hear the crank hitting the oil pan but no, the engine started fine- just the idiot light. I will still hook up the oil pressure gauge but i checked the oil pressure sensor wiring and it seems fine. That leaves the pickup tube...
It sounds to me like the dent in the pan has pushed against the oil pump pickup tube, and has either dislodged it or broken it off the pump. Yes, your pan must come off. You might get away with unbolting motor mounts and lifting the engine up off it's pads with a hoist for a few extra inches.
That's a good idea but, unfortunately, no hoist. Have to work from the bottom... Is the pickup tube reaching all the way down at the front of the oil pan?
Yes, your oil pump pickup is just clear enough from the bottom of the pan to avoid a flow restriction. Imagine if you're drinking through a straw and you push it down into a glob of crushed ice...no cool refreshing drink. If it's smashed deep enough it'll knock the pickup off the pump.
Wont need the hoist...Just drop the idler arm from the frame rail as stated and you will have plenty of room to wiggle the oil pan out. But yeah...Either pushed the pan against the pick up tube or snapped it off or bent it up...Good luck.
I would pull pan, check what was damaged, replace whatever is damaged including the pan. Whatever you replace is a lot less hassle and expense of engine replace/rebuild.
Thank you. Yes absolutely. As soon as I get the gasket the pan is coming off. The oil pan dent should be easy enough to bang back out from the inside. the rest, will see...
You might be surprised how difficult it can be to get a dent out of the bottom of an oil pan. I used a hydraulic press on mine.
For the cost , effort and time it may take to bang it out and it may not seal properly; I am of the opinion -- just replace it.
Not everyone can just go buy another pan for a 40+ yo car. I've straightened and welded pans ripped open by rocks. It can be done, it just takes patience. I have faith in you. But if you can find and afford one. That would be the wiser option.
I agree it can be done. However, not everyone has welding equipment or welding skills. Auto Zone has pans for around $50.00 cheap insurance against weld failure and dumping oil. One can improve their welding/fabbing skills on literally something not subject Really Putting them back in the pan and checkbook.
Hope you find a more stable point to lift your 50 year old jewel ! Frame 20 inches behind front wheels worked for me and 3 ton jack stands.
I fully agree, a new pan is cheap insurance. However, sometimes we simply don't have 50 bucks and still have to drive to work on Monday. I've been there before and it's not fun. I mean, what are the odds it's even in stock? Sometimes you just gotta do to get by.
