M42club.com - Home of the BMW E30/E36 318i/iS
DISCUSSION => General Topics => Topic started by: thumper3ld on March 09, 2006, 06:27:32 PM
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My friend gotta change both the upper and lower oil pan gaskets. Is this hard to do and how many hours of labor should it be?
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Well, it's not easy, but it's not technically difficult. I believe you have to either drop the subframe or raise the engine, though. I was going to change mine out when I had the tranny out for the clutch, and decided not to. Although I should have, since it is seeping somewhat...
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From a profesional mechanics perspective I would say 3-4 hours of labor to do this and I would first do this on a hoist and use a support under the front crank pulley and then lower the front cross member.
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Well, I just experienced this last weekend. The lower pan is cake (obviously). If you are JUST changing the upper pan gasket, you can do it without hoisting the motor, as long as the old one comes off cleanly & no scrapings get into the pan.
I would recommend pulling it though, & cleaning it thoroughly. Hehe, make sure the engine is 90deg off from TDC...the counterweights hang down into the pan and get in the way when trying to remove it. I attached a hoist/chain around the driver's side mounting spar and lifted that side of the motor. Getting the mount stud back in the hole required a large crowbar. I will throw up some pics a little later.
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We are probably going to have a mechanic do it, I just wanted to make sure he was charging us the correct amount of hours. Thanks for everyone's input. We would try ourselves, but I dont have faith in our mechanical ability. Plus, my friend is affraid to get under the car while its on jack stands (the wuss):D