Pulling my oil pan, what to look for

[jpod999]

So I punched a fairly big hole in my pan the other day.  Turned off the motor before it seized so I'm ok there.  I remember reading a while back that some people find bolts in their oil pan when they pull it, where are these from and how crucial is it that I put them back?

I also need to know the torque specs of the oil pan bolts.

Thanks.

[ten2doyle102]

I did that myself, granted I didn't put a hole in my pan.  Anyway, they come from around the oil pump pickup in the upper portion of the oil pan.  I believe that they are 10mm hex head bolts and there should be 6-7 of them around the pickup.  If you don't check to make sure they are tight, they'll back out and you'll lose oil pressure which of course is a no good!  With mine, I found 5 of them in the pan.  

Also, the torque on the pan bolts shouldnt be much.  I think anywhere from 8-10 ft# or 89-120in#

[jpod999]

Thanks a lot doyle.  Exactly the information I was looking for.

[ten2doyle102]

Not a problem.  

Just don't overtighten that oil pan or you'll crush the gasket and it'll leak like a sieve.

[RED IS 91]

REQUIRED READING .................

http://www.m42club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=594&highlight=oil+pan+bolts

Stock bolts the proper torque is: 10 nm (89 in-lb)
Better high end bolts (higher grade) can go 12nm (9ft-lb) *Note the change to foot pounds.

[RED IS 91]

I did that myself, granted I didn't put a hole in my pan.  Anyway, they come from around the oil pump pickup in the upper portion of the oil pan.  I believe that they are 10mm hex head bolts and there should be 6-7 of them around the pickup.  If you don't check to make sure they are tight, they'll back out and you'll lose oil pressure which of course is a no good!  With mine, I found 5 of them in the pan.  

Also, the torque on the pan bolts should be much.  I think anywhere from 15-20 ft#

Try not to give info that will lead to disaster ..............

Pan bolts are 89 inch lbs for 8.8 grade or 106 inch lbs for 10.9 grade bolts

[jpod999]

Thanks for posting that link.  Definitely going to have to give my motor a good once over.

[ten2doyle102]

sorry about the torques.  that's just what i torqued my stuff down too and had no problem.

[ten2doyle102]

Try not to give info that will lead to disaster ..............

Pan bolts are 89 inch lbs for 8.8 grade or 106 inch lbs for 10.9 grade bolts

are you telling me that if you over torqued by 5 ft#, it would break?  why would the torques be different just because of the grade of bolt?  I am just curious how that affects it since your still tightening the bolts down on a gasket and sandwiching to pieces of metal together

Also it should be noted that it also specifically states that the guy that did that write up suggested increasing that torque by 10%-20%.  Therefore I wasn't too far off and from the sound of it, being a little higher on the torque is a better idea....  But that's just me.

[Isamemon]

glad for that link also, I found 5 bolts in the bottom of my pan today

[peerless]

You will also want to look for the beginning signs of thrust bearing failure.

Here is the bolts your looking for:


Here is your thrust bearing face material.

[ten2doyle102]

thank god I never found anything like that whilst taking the pan apart!!

[RED IS 91]

are you telling me that if you over torqued by 5 ft#, it would break?  why would the torques be different just because of the grade of bolt?  I am just curious how that affects it since your still tightening the bolts down on a gasket and sandwiching to pieces of metal together

Also it should be noted that it also specifically states that the guy that did that write up suggested increasing that torque by 10%-20%.  Therefore I wasn't too far off and from the sound of it, being a little higher on the torque is a better idea....  But that's just me.

I don't want to split hairs but :
20 ft. lbs = 240 inch lbs
89 inch lbs  X 3 = 267 inch lbs .
If my math is correct then at your high end of 20 ft lbs you are almost 3 times the required torque value.
At the low end of 15 ft lbs .
15 ft lbs = 180 inch lbs which is over twice the required torque.
I'm not saying it would break but quite possibly strip which would require a heli coil at the very least .
I have a ft lbs torque wrench and a inch lbs wrench which I use whenever possible.
I don't want to flame anyone ,just saying "give accurate info". There is an online repair manual in the reference section that will give all the torques  required.
For the upper pan bolts use thread locker as described in the thread.

[ten2doyle102]

Ok, that may be understandable about the torques and I'll make sure I double check myself prior to that again since I never intended on possibly causing damage to others stuff. Its been awhile since I did that on my m42 and I have been working on alot of cars lately but I know that's no excuse.  I think I was thinking Nm cause then that wouldn't be to far off.   Sorry OP about the misinformation, updated for correct info above

However, I still don't get why it shoud be torqued more just cause you have a different grade bolt.

[Isamemon]

differnt grade bolts can take a higher torque, but the material that you are threading into might not