Oil Pan Gasket, and while I'm in there...

[PatrickW]

The "Leak and Squeak Eradication Campaign" continues on my '82 240D 4-speed.

Next on the list is the Oil Pan Gasket, which I have identified as a source of oil leaking after having degreased and power-washed the area.

I crawled under the car several times, in an effort to pinpoint the source of the leak, and tried tightening the 5mm allen bolts (not too hard - I don't want to strip them). It looks like there's a small hole in the gasket that's spurting oil onto the nearby A/C hose, where it drips down and is blown back across the oil pan by the wind as the car goes down the road.

So while I have the Oil Pan off, is there anything else maintenance-wise that I can/should do while I'm in there?

Thanks,

- Patrick

[FarmerDrew]

thats pretty much it, change gasket and put it back together.

[t walgamuth]

at the risk of being called mr obvious, i suggest cleaning the pan out really well.

[barry123400]

I might be tempted to check the oil pump chain for allowable stretch as there have been a few failures in last month or so reported on this site. Perhaps making sure oil pickup screen is clean and not gunked up as well when your in there does no harm either.

[Stevo]

Patrick

When I changed mine I used a little "blue silicone" and like you said didn't "tighten it down to heard" but I did have to come back and "snug" it up after a few days of driving.

[Pete Burton]

If you can see the spring that pushes lever that tensions the oil pump chain, look for wear where the spring touches the lever. Mine was almost worn through also, check the screen on the oil pump pickup for any stringy debris that might me ready to sneak through the screen. That screen is hardy, but pretty coarse.