take oil pan off with engine in?

pearldrum · 02-24-2003, 12:09 PM

Hey, I was wondering if you could take the oil pan off the car with the engine still in it? If so, how easy is it? Doesn't seem like it would be that easy with the cross-member and steering in the way. Since we broke the valve we were wanting to look at the piston from the underside to see if we could see anything, it looks fine from the top...the head and gaskets are in the mail now.

1.2gees · 1.2gees's Garage

The piston is probably fine if it looks OK from the top.

The oil pan is removable (non turbo 944 I'm assuming) w/the engine in place but you have to support it either from up top, or below... I've done it both ways, from above you can use the engine lift points, from below somewhere around the bellhousing, AND the crank pulley works for me. You'd want to be carefull down there. Again, I don't think it's necessary to try to check the piston from below.
Ahmet

pearldrum · 02-24-2003, 12:23 PM

We were just wondering if maybe we messed up the pin. Also, I think we were considering pulling out the piston from the #4 cylinder because oil is still streaking on the side of the wall when cranked...broken ring...?...i hope not...

highboost951 · 02-25-2003, 07:36 AM

I really don't think you'll see too much, but if you do pull the pan, you can replace your rod bearings, rod nuts, oil pan gskt, motor mounts, and re-ring the whole motor. Wouldn't you feel a lot better and have peace of mind about putting it back together after that? If you have over 100K miles, do your rod bearings! People neglect them and are disappointed when they spin one, errr! It's cheap insurance.

Lawrence Coppari · 02-25-2003, 08:47 AM

interglossa · 02-25-2003, 08:57 AM

Yes it can be done and you can get alot done while it's off. One note of warning. When removing the pan, be careful of the plastic pan baffle. Being soaked in hot oil for a long time makes it brittle and it can break with light pressure. You kinda have to snake the pan around by feel to get the pickup tube around the baffle.
Don't yank...personal experience.
broken pan baffle=$100

Lawrence Coppari · 02-25-2003, 09:25 AM

944S Boyeee · 02-25-2003, 10:10 AM

Just curious....

If the oilpan is pulled and the rod bearings/nuts/gasket and rings were done, what would be the rough shop time on that job???

Also, if anyone has done this (which I'm sure someone has), what was the rough price breakdown on parts? I'd like to get that work done as preventative maintainence.

My Suzuki Sidekick needs rings and they tell me they have to pull the engine to do it.....that damn lil' engine could most likely be lifted by hand for crying out loud, there must be a simpler way of doing the rings on a Suzuki......but that is a side worry right now.

944S Boyeee

Lawrence Coppari · 02-26-2003, 03:50 AM

Rod bearing set cost about $55. Can't recall how much nuts cost... Gasket cost me about $45. It took me about 30 hours to do it. Instructions said it would take 12 hours. I'm very slow. If I had to do it again, I could probably do it in 15 hours.

Can't comment on the rings.