Author Topic: The dreaded rattle from oil pan... (Read 3428 times)

Alpine003 · « **on:** November 07, 2006, 12:10:13 PM »

I get a rattling noise at certain times and I'm guessing it's the bolts for the oil pickup that have come loose.

Has anyone replaced or removed the oil pan and can you reuse the oilpan gasket or is it a one time use gasket?

FL318is · « **Reply #1 on:** November 07, 2006, 12:21:39 PM »

Replace the gasket ALWAYS! We used a thread "adhesive" but it was not lock tite. There is a thread somewhere her that will give you more info. Welcome to the bolt pan club! LOL

Alpine003 · « **Reply #2 on:** November 07, 2006, 12:55:35 PM »

Well off to the dealer then...

Alpine003 · « **Reply #3 on:** November 08, 2006, 03:07:35 PM »

Just so I'm clear, if I'm only replacing the lower pan gasket, do I need to still jack up the engine to get to all the bolts? Just doing some preliminary checks before I get under there this weekend. Thanks.

e9nine · « **Reply #4 on:** November 08, 2006, 04:14:11 PM »

No need to jack up the engine. A brief peak under there and you'll see that it's a blessing to have a 2 piece oil pan at a time like this. Just get the gasket sealant and don't go trying to be hercules when you tighten the bolts either

As to you hearing the bolts in the pan....It actually amazes me how you can hear the rattle with oil in the car :confused: It's good precaution to check to make sure all is well in there anyway and our gaskets do tend to leave some embarassing spots in the driveway.

Alpine003 · « **Reply #5 on:** November 09, 2006, 08:56:42 AM »

Well, I should give a little bit of history which seems to be more than a coiincidence at this point.

I've only had the car for less than 3 months and my first oil change I did was to 5w30 synthetic for the upcoming winter months. I did this a few weeks ago. I would venture to guess that the synthetic probably loosened up my improperly torqued cam caps which led to my broken cam, also loosened up any bolts around the oil pickup. The thinner oil could be the reason why I can hear my bolts. So far, my car isn't drinking the 5w30 but if it does more than usual, I will probably switch back to 10w30 for the winter.

sheepdog · « **Reply #6 on:** November 09, 2006, 11:21:05 AM »

Quote from: Alpine003;13529

Well, I should give a little bit of history which seems to be more than a coiincidence at this point.

I've only had the car for less than 3 months and my first oil change I did was to 5w30 synthetic for the upcoming winter months. I did this a few weeks ago. I would venture to guess that the synthetic probably loosened up my improperly torqued cam caps which led to my broken cam, also loosened up any bolts around the oil pickup. The thinner oil could be the reason why I can hear my bolts. So far, my car isn't drinking the 5w30 but if it does more than usual, I will probably switch back to 10w30 for the winter.

Thicker oil dampens engine vibrations.

shutter · « **Reply #7 on:** November 09, 2006, 11:51:26 AM »

I'm running the same oil for our Chitown winter Alpine. I'm anxious to see if I have any such "changes" with the thinner synthetic. So far so good, but I haven't been driving it =( It definitely seems to love the synthetic overall though =]

Febi Guibo · « **Reply #8 on:** November 19, 2006, 01:58:05 PM »

Quote from: e9nine;13490

don't go trying to be hercules when you tighten the bolts either

"mongo love heli-coils!"