engine and drivetrain Oil Pan Gasket Removal Revisited

[PaulTWinterton]

Hi All,

 

I'm contemplating the removal of my tii oil pan so I'm searching threads about hoisting from above with various methods for lifting.

 

Then I found an old post where C.D.  says:

 

"you only need a small floor jack and a piece of 2x4 placed under the transmission for lifting"

 

http://www.bmw2002faq.com/topic/126334-oil-pan-gasket-question/?hl=%2Boil+%2Bpan+%2Bgasket+%2Bquestion#entry91071

 

I like the sound of that as opposed to chain/jack/4x4 method from above.   Good for replacing mounts as well.

 

Comments?

 

 

[cj]

There was a recent post where someone used a 4x4 across the engine bay and a nylon tie down straddling the 4x4, with both ends hooked into the alternator bracket. He then dropped the subframe to remove the oil pan.

[KFunk]

I don't know how it is on a tii. But yes, on my car, just a piece of wood under the tranny to lift the engine up will give you just enough clearance to slide the pan off.  Loosen engine mounts as well.  It's a tight fit, and makes it tough for not boogering up the gasket when you reinstall it.    

[M3M3]

not sure what CD was talking about there.  don't see how jacking under the tranny would do the deed.  gotta lift and support from above.

[cj]

By the way, I'd suggest using the later fiber gasket, not the cork.

[Stevenc22]

Harbor freight has an engine support bar for $70 which has saved my life on countless oil pan gaskets

[KFunk]

not sure what CD was talking about there.  don't see how jacking under the tranny would do the deed.  gotta lift and support from above.

 

Have you done it?  I have.

[jgerock]

Have you done it?  I have.

mlytle help another FAQ'r change his oil pan with engine in the car.  An engine hoist was used to lift the engine and tranny.

 

I did almost all of my engine work on my tii with the engine lifted using a 4x4 and chain.  My limitation was the alternator hitting the battery tray.  I had to remove the oil pump to get the pan out (and back in).  I'll never do that again.

[jgerock]

 nt

Edited November 24, 2014 by jgerock

[KFunk]

mlytle help another FAQ'r change his oil pan with engine in the car.  An engine hoist was used to lift the engine and tranny.

 

I did almost all of my engine work on my tii with the engine lifted using a 4x4 and chain.  My limitation was the alternator hitting the battery tray.  I had to remove the oil pump to get the pan out (and back in).  I'll never do that again.

 

No doubt many can and have done it that way, but I have done it the quicker way.  The car was parked on the street, and I needed the car for driving to work the next day, and didn't have the money to spend on extra tools/garage/transportation.  I attempted the easiest ways first to see if they can be done, and it can. 

The highest you're gonna get an engine with a hoist is until the tranny hits the tunnel or the dizzy hits the firewall.  Unless you unbolt the bell housing, that's not gonna change.   Alts can be moved easily, and so can dizzies (but add the hassle of setting timing).  I had no trouble with alt hitting battery tray, but I think the tii has it in a different place. 

People use bell housing bolts to hold engines on stands, so they can handle the stress.  A cheap floorjack will go up in the air a foot or more, and some extra boards will help you close the gap.  You're not going to go beyond the limits of the jack before the tranny hits the tunnel. 

When taking my pan off, I first didn't jack anything and unbolted the pump from the side to work around that (as another FAQ description said to do, but it's not necessary), and got the pan off.  Later I had trouble getting things into place without boogering up gasket and throwing off chain tension.  Then I bolted the pump into place firmly with chain tension set right, jacked engine up via transmission, and could slide the entire pan with gasket on it around the pump and bolt the pan into place.  

Edited November 24, 2014 by KFunk

[peterschop]

I used a wood beam on top of blocks sitting on top of the fenders and then dropped the subframe, struts and all when I replaced my oil pan. But then again, I also replaced some bushings and swapped out the steering box at the same time.

 

[PaulTWinterton]

If I remove the tii alternator, can I lift the engine enough to get the pan out without removing the oil pump?

How much lift is required. 1 inch? 2 inches?

[jgerock]

Paul - I've posted these pictures several times.  Trans. rear mount (round) was unbolted, cylinder head off, engine was as high as I could get it with the alternator jammed against the battery tray.

This did not work out

[PaulTWinterton]

Thanks Jim,

 

Sorry to make you post your pictures again.  I have seen them before.  I'm still shell shocked that I may have to lower the subframe JUST to get my pan out.  That really sucks. 

[jgerock]

If you unbolt the oil pump from the engine the pan can be R&R'd.   The pickup for the oil pump is the issue - I guess if the pan baffle wasn't there the pan could be removed...

 

A non-BMW service manual for the 1600 describes rotating the pan to remove it (engine installed but lifted), but I couldn't get that to work on my car.