Oil pan rusted...???

[Benwin]

So, I went to get my oil changed yesterday; and about 5 minutes after the guy pulled my car into the bay, he comes into the waiting area and says "Well, I have some bad news. I can't change your oil because your oil pan is RUSTING... We went to take the oil plug out, and noticed it was covered in oil, so we wiped it off... It immediately began to get covered in oil again, and it was coming from around the threads at the top of the plug. Also, when we pressed up on the bottom of your oil pan, it FLEXED. Also, the bottom side of your engine is saturated with oil, along with parts of your exhaust and under carriage (I'm assuming from oil dripping at highway speeds). I recommend you take your car to a full service center to get the pan replaced."

So, fifteen minutes and two phone calls later
$508.32 for a new oil pan, and SIX HOURS of labor to install it. (Why six hours? Does my engine need to be removed?)
How the hell does something FULL OF OIL FOR ITS WHOLE LIFE rust?

Also, the car (my 95 grand marquis) has 174,000 miles on it... is it too late to switch to full synthetic - "High Mileage" oil? Will it do more harm than good, or do nothing?

[FordNut]

It has probably rusted from the outside due to road salt. If you change to synthetic it will probably use oil and possibly leak thru gaskets and seals, even after the pan is replaced.

[RoyLPita]

That labor price is nothing out of the ordinary. I would look around some more since this seems to be a common thing up north.

[FordNut]

I'm not sure, will the Marauder oil pan fit? Check the classified ads on here, I have one for sale.

[Spectragod]

The $508 price sounds like parts AND labor. The oil pan is less than $100. Yes, you have to lift the motor up to change the pan in the car, you should hope that none of the bolts break off when they try to loosen them, otherwise, the labor will be higher.

[Spectragod]

I'm not sure, will the Marauder oil pan fit? Check the classified ads on here, I have one for sale.

The MM pan will not fit an Aero, I went down this road with my 96 Vic.

[NYGarageQueen]

The $508 price sounds like parts AND labor. The oil pan is less than $100. Yes, you have to lift the motor up to change the pan in the car, you should hope that none of the bolts break off when they try to loosen them, otherwise, the labor will be higher.


+1, I would be worried about those bolts as well. It might be worth it to have a visual inspection done under the car when they are doing, I have seen some not so good stories about rust.

[RoyLPita]

The MM Oil pan holds a quart more than the previous version. I have heard that the crossmember has to be hammered out of the way to clear the pan on the 98-02 style Panther platform.

[Benwin]

It has probably rusted from the outside due to road salt. If you change to synthetic it will probably use oil and possibly leak thru gaskets and seals, even after the pan is replaced.


Elaborate, please... I am having him put 100% synthetic in it, and am using a Motorcraft oil filter...

[justbob]

Synthetic oil will reludricate all the dry seals and gaskets over a small amount of time and create leaks just about everywhere. This is very common.

[FordNut]

Elaborate, please... I am having him put 100% synthetic in it, and am using a Motorcraft oil filter...

Even on a new engine. My new build didn't leak a drop on the breakin oil which was Valvoline petroleum based. I ran it for about 6k then changed to RP synthetic. It has seeped and oozed out of the oil pan gasket ever since. Next oil change I'm going back to dino oil to see if it stops leaking 'cause that's a lot easier than pulling the engine to seal the oil pan.

[NYGarageQueen]

The MM Oil pan holds a quart more than the previous version. I have heard that the crossmember has to be hammered out of the way to clear the pan on the 98-02 style Panther platform.


That is correct, the MM oil pan does not clear in 98-02 cars because of the crossmember since the front suspension was upgraded on 03+ - same goes for 03+ pans as well.

When i did my swap into the 99, I had to use a Mark VII oil pan and pickup to fit in, which was a ***** to the tranny cooling lines. But it did fit.

[Benwin]

Synthetic oil will reludricate all the dry seals and gaskets over a small amount of time and create leaks just about everywhere. This is very common.


...and this is a (bad) (good) thing? lol