Thread: removing upper oil pan

I started removing my upper oil pan for the first time today to fix some leaks and am now stuck.

1. do the exhaust secondaries need to be disconnected?

2. I am missing the little access plate, appearantly my car never had one. I am also missing one of the oil pan to transmission bolts

3. What size are the bolt holes used to push the upper oil pan off the block?
The oilpan to tranny bolts do not fit at all, even though the FSM says they should.

any help appreciated!

The exhaust secondary needs to be disconnected to be able to pull the oil pan off, I do not have any idea why they would not fit, unless you might be putting them in the wrong holes, but I'd just see if I can find a bolt of the proper diameter to try if the bolts that are supposed to work don't.

And as for the access plate, don't stress about it, just grab one next time you're out at the junkyard.

3. The oil pan-to-tranny bolts are both the same thread size. Only difference is that one is longer than the other.

I think the holes may be caked with corrosion and build up etc..
Im going to run a tap through them and see what happens. From the bolt they should be 10mm x 1.5 thread pitch.

Would it be easier to replace the upper pan gasket with the trany already off?

I also have an oil leak from the upper oil pan ( and lower ) , but i was gonna wait until i dropped my tranny to replace my clutch. I just figured if i already had the tranny out if it would be easier to do.

There's no oil pan gasket. You use grey RTV.

The upper oil pan isnt really connected to the tranny, it doesnt get in the way at all. After spending a day under my car last weekend fooling around with the upper pan, I dont see how removing the tranny would help. There are only 2 bolts that connect from the upper pan to the tranny, and they are used to separate the pan from the block.

Ah i see. So just removing the downpipe then unbolting the upper oil pan should do the trick.

Cool, maybe i won't have to wait to replace my gasket. Nice!

exactly. pull out the FSM and go over the bolt holes. dont forget the little two nuts in that access plate that go into the rear main seal, forget them and you will snap your rear main seal retainer...and the tranny will have to come off.

^^^yikes FSM ftw!

I got my exhaust off after soaking all bolts in pblaster for 4 days.
I got both pans installed thanks this forum.
Tomorrow I get to tackle my water pump which is leaking like a civ.