Key Takeaways
The following are the key takeaways from this article:
- The oil pan is the oil reservoir under the engine with the main purpose of storing the oil.
- The oil pan is usually made up of steel or aluminum and can hold five to seven quarts of oil.
- The common problems of oil pans include impact damage, other damages, damaged gasket, and damaged rings/valve seals.
- The common symptoms of a bad oil pan include leakage under the car, leakage around the oil drain plug, and visible damage to the oil pan.
- The typical oil pan replacement cost is around $600-1000.
Introduction
An oil pan is one of the important parts present in the engine system. The oil pan is situated below the engine block, and the main purpose of this part is to store the oil.
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This oil is then used to lubricate all the engine parts. The oil pan allows the oil to flow through all the parts; thus, the friction is lessened, and the chances of damage are thus minimized. An oil pump attached to the oil pan collects the oil from the oil pan and is forced into the filter (1). All the dirt particles and debris is removed from the oil before transferring to the engine parts. This article will further discuss the construction of an oil pan along with common problems and symptoms of a bad oil pump.
Construction of Oil Pan
Earlier, the oil pan was made of iron, but with the advancement of technology, steel and aluminum have been used to make the oil pan (2). This is because steel and aluminum are lightweight and have a minimum chance of corrosion.
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Thus, the oil pan made of steel is more durable. In modern vehicles, the oil pan can hold four to six quarts of oil. The oil level in the pan can easily be measured using the oil dipstick.
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Sometimes, the oil gets old and needs replacement. To replace the oil, a drainage plug is attached to the bottom end of the oil pan (1). Furthermore, two magnets are in the oil pan, and this magnet help collects the metallic particles from the oil before these metallic particles damage the engine parts.
Common Problems with Oil Pan
Many reasons can cause damage to the oil pan, and as a result, the engine’s performance is impacted. Some of the major causes of oil pan failure are as follows.
Impact Damage
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One of the major causes of oil pan failure is impact damage. This usually occurs when a car experiences an accident, and damage can cause leakage in the oil pan. Another reason for the sudden oil pan failure is road debris.
The oil pan is situated at the bottom end, so the rough roads and rock can cause a dent and hole in the oil pan. As a result, the oil starts leaking and drops below the level. Thus, the oil is not pumped to the engine parts, and the engine parts usually get damaged due to a lack of lubrication (1). Also, the leakage of oil causes the puddle below the vehicle. As a result, the leakage of oil releases black-colored smoke from the vehicle’s tailpipe. This issue usually occurs when the oil drops the exhaust manifold. Moreover, there are chances that oil leakage can damage the oxygen sensors. Thus, the leakage in the oil pan can impact the engine’s performance.
Damaged Oil Pan
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Another reason for the oil pan’s poor performance is the damaged oil pan. The oil pan may get damaged with time, resulting in holes in the pan.
This causes oil leakage, and, as a result, the engine’s overall performance is impacted. In addition, due to the oil leakage, the engine check light is illuminated on the dashboard to indicate the problems with the oil pan (2). Also, the constant leakage of oil causes a low level of oil in the engine system, and as a result, the engine parts get worn due to less lubrication.
Damaged Oil Pan Gasket
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A gasket in an oil pan aims to seal the oil. Thus, it does not allow the engine oil to leak. So, one major reason for the oil leakage is the oil pan gasket failure. This usually occurs when a gasket is exposed to high temperature, high pressure, and strong vibrations.
Constant contact of the oil pan gasket with the hot fluid develops the leakage in the gasket, and as a result, the oil drops on various parts of the engine. Sometimes this oil enters the combustion chambers and creates a problem in the ignition of the spark (3). Furthermore, due to cracks in the gaskets, the engine oil may drop on the exhaust manifold, which suddenly evaporates due to high temperature. This is the major reason for black-colored smoke from the tailpipe. Also, a burning smell is observed from the engine. Hence, the overall efficiency of the engine becomes poor.
Damaged Rings and Valve Seals
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Another reason for the damaged oil pan is the defective rings and valve seal. In addition, the oil pan rings get damaged due to the high temperature and pressure.
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Due to damaged oil pan rings, an excessive amount of oil enters the engine system, and as a result, blue-colored smoke is released from the vehicle’s exhaust system. As a result, the oil level in the pan drops below the level, and the car experiences a rough performance (3). Also, the engine may get overheated due to less oil, as the purpose of oil is to reduce the excess heat. So, the damaged oil pan overall affects the performance of the engine.
Symptoms of a Bad Oil Pan
Following are some symptoms of a bad oil pan:
Leakage under the Car
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The most common symptom of a bad oil pan is the oil puddles under the car. When you notice oil puddles under the car, it is time to replace or repair the oil pan. These leaks can be small, but if the issue is not resolved promptly, the leaks will increase, and the engine will eventually be damaged. It is not recommended to drive long distances with a leaking oil pan as the oil can eventually finish, resulting in the engine seizing. In case of leakage, the driver should check the oil level before every travel to avoid complex engine problems.
Leakage around Oil Drain Plug
As discussed above, that oil pan gasket can leak. This will result in oil leakage around the drain plug. The drain plug holds the oil in the pan and is removed when the oil is supposed to be changed during the service maintenance.
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Sometimes, the threads around the oil drain plug can go bad, resulting in leakage. If the threads are damaged, it is time to replace the oil pan (4). Likewise, if the gasket is damaged, then the gasket can be replaced to prevent the leakage of oil from the oil pan.
Visible Damage to the Oil Pan
Impact damage is a common damage to the oil pan that can happen when due to low lying road. This can result in a fast leak that can get worsen with time. You can notice the visible damage to the oil pan by sliding under the car or lifting the car on the hydraulic press (5). Therefore, it is recommended to replace the oil pan immediately to avoid engine seizing or other complex problems that will take a substantial amount to repair.
Conclusion
To conclude, the oil pan is an important engine component storing and circulating oil around it. A typical oil pan contains around 5 to 7 quarts of oil that are replaced at typical service maintenance. The common problem that oil pans have is that they can be damaged due to road/ or other impacts, which can also affect the gasket and the valve seals. It is recommended that drivers replace the damaged oil pan before driving long distances to avoid any complex engine problems.
FAQs
An oil pan is important for an engine as it lubricates the engine components by circulating oil around it. If this reservoir is damaged, the engine oil will leak, and the engine components will seize.
It depends upon the extent of the damage. If the damage to the oil pan/gasket is small, you can drive your car daily as long as you check the oil level regularly. However, if the damage is significant, you must replace the oil pan before traveling to avoid complex engine damage.
Oil pan usually gets damaged due to impact hit at the roadside. Similarly, gasket and valve seals can also damage the oil pan.
