Oil pan gasket difficulty??

[lsmalley]

Couldn't find any useful info to replace a w201 oil pan gasket. Anyone know the steps or easiest way to do this?

[pawoSD]

With the engine in the car: Huge Pain/not sure if even possible Out of the car: Pretty easy.

[lsmalley]

Well.....looks like I better start checking for price quotes

[porkface]

it's not terrible in the car-

drop the exhaust from the hangers and support the t/pipe w/a bungee from the bumper.

drop trans xmember and disconnect d/shaft.

remove fan shroud and hang onto fan.

drain coolant and remove hoses from rad. best to remove trans cooler hoses, also.

support engine from above.

remove lower bolts from motor mounts.

crank the engine up high as possible. the rear of the pan has to clear the front xmember.

done it a few times on 201s, many on 124s. good luck, chuck.

[pawoSD]

Doing 75% of the work needed to pull the engine/trans to replace a gasket counts as terrible in my book!

[porkface]

pulling an engine is ALOT worse than the oil pan gasket. done that a few times, also. good luck, chuck.

[ps2cho]

You don't have to drop the exhaust. Remove motor mount bolts, lift engine, drop trans mount lower that side of trans and then wiggle the sucker until it comes out. Tight fit though.

But yeh its a real horrible job.

[porkface]

no, you don't HAVE to drop the exhaust, but it's a helluva lot easier when you do. the exhaust acts like a lever while you're raising the motor. and, I do mean drop, not remove entirely. leave attached at the manifold but support it at the rear bumper. good luck, chuck.