I am leaking a bunch of oil and it seems to be coming from the lower oil pan. I was wondering if i replace the lower oil pan gasket, do i have to do anything to the upper pan and gasket. also, why the hell is there even two oil pans, and if i end up needing to replace the upper pan gasket, is it hard? My final ranting question is which is better to use, a reaplacement gasket or blue RTV gasket maker? Your help is very much appreciated as you can tell, im dumbfounded!

 

Should be lower only- upper should not be affected, if you are accurately describing the source. I don't know how hard it is to do the upper one.

 

FSM says to use RTV for the gasket. Make sure you run the bead of gasket on the inside of the bolt holes. Also recommends a special tool to free the pan from the old gasket.

 

Learned something new. I'll edit my post.

 

yeah they actually come from the factory with rtv that's very similiar to permetex grey, definitly use permetex grey not the blue rtv stuff. 3m auto scuff pad and brake-cleaner/rags will save you time getting everything clean. Upper requires removal of bellhousing bolts, crossmember, y-pipe, and a few brackets etc. I imagine it would be incredibly difficult to break the upper seal with the trans in place, in fact almost impossible, the 4 i've removed all required the use of a rubber malet at the bottom bellhousing area because the 2 pry spots nissan gives you chip off very very easy. So yeah, I'd verify 100% where it's coming from, could also be front crank seal, oil pressure sensor, filter, timing cover, etc and dripping down and appearing like the lower pan. You'll need to get it safely on jackstands and get under there, possibly pull a splash guard or two, and look very closely with a droplight first.

 

I have looked very closely at this thing but i cant seem to pinpoint the source. After i looked at it just now, it looks to be coming from a little higher up on the engine because there is a ton of oil all up and down the left side of the engine(looking at the engine from outside of car). I really appreciate the comment. I have one more thought, would the valve cover gaskets produce a leak even when the car is off and sitting?

 

For the lower one you can get a regular gasket from kragen or autozone. The upper ones uses both rtv and oil pan end gasket. If you get it from kragen you get both the rtv and oil pan end gasket. If you get it from the factory you only get the oil pan end gasket. You have to buy the rtv yourself.

I have already mentioned this on another thread that it is not that easy to do the upper oil pan. If you have not do any major work yourself on a car before then I would recommend you bring it to a repair shop. Seeing as it requires you to take out the crossmember to do the upper oil pan, it is actually quite dangerous unless you support it well.

BTW, aren't you the same guy who said your brakes was pulling crazy?

 

lol, is it pulling to the left? if it is, wow, that's just plain funny.

I was actually going to post him a link to your thread fithos, that's funny you hopped in this. he has it a little easier though, no rms to deal with and he might not have to use a cherry picker to support the engine since the tranny can still be in place, though you or the shop that does it will probably end up needing to pull the tranny, HOWEVER, dude, you don't want to perform this job if your not VERY comfortable turning wrenches and have a good selection of tools. This job, even if it doesn't require pulling the trannsmission, is on that level of difficulty. This is all assuming that your leak is even coming from the upper-pan, If your underneath the car with all the splasheilds out of the way and a droplight or flashlight you will be able to tell if it is coming from the upper oil-pan or the valve cover, if it's dripping around the headers and down onto the block and then down onto the upper-pan it is most likely the valve cover.

 

HeHe, here's the link so you can have a good laugh.
http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=506604

BTW, the second rear main seal I put on worked good. There is only a little oil leak this time, but luckily it's coming from the passenger axle seal. A quick and easy fix if only my local dealer had the part in stock.

This is how I feel comfortable doing the oil pan gasket.

 

Interesting, never thought of putting the lift in from the side, probably makes getting in and out from underneath MUCH easier......

 

Oh no, not the bloody hands again.

 

wow, so that's the upper oil pan...sweet

 

Nice pictures!!!

 

Yeah, my car is still pulling like feaking hell.

 

have any more pics?

 

hey, KRRZ350, are you done doing the oil pan yet?