Quote:
Originally posted by Cat3
US 1989 Accord DX 4dr 5spd
Oil Pan Gasket Change
no special tools are needed
I used an assortment of metric sockets and wrenches, a couple screwdrivers, a gasket scraper and a hammer
what you'll need to buy
oil pan gasket
RTV sealant
gasket between exhaust manifold and exhaust pipe
gasket between exhaust pipe and catalytic converter (the front one)
oil and oil filter
PB Blaster - penetrating oil
I used a lot of brake parts cleaner to clean the oil and grime off of things. Just be sure not to get any on anything but metal.
changing oil pan gasket
1. put car on jack stands
2. drain oil
3. spray PB Blaster on exhaust manifold nuts/studs (3), exhaust support bracket nuts (2) and the nuts/studs (3) on the engine side of the catalytic converter. Repeat every so often, while you're working. Also spray it on the crossmember's (front to back) bolts (7).
4. remove cross member (7 bolts) - there's a rubber square bolted to it, with a bracket around it, that's bolted to the transmission. After removing the cross member, also remove that bracket from the transmission. It's held in by 3 bolts.
5. remove the bracket with 4 bolts, that goes from the transmission to the block. The bolts are different lengths, so keep them in order.
6. now that the exhaust has had time to soak in the penetrating oil, remove it, but be very gentle so you don't torque off the studs. there's 3 nuts connecting the exhaust pipe to the manifold, and 3 nuts connecting to the catalytic converter. There's also a bracket that comes down between the oil pan and the driver's side driveshaft, that the exhaust pipe is attached to for support. remove the 2 nuts connecting the pipe to that bracket.
7. remove the exhaust pipe support bracket. there's 2 bolts holding it down at the top of the bracket.
8. remove the flywheel inspection cover. that's the thin metal plate that fits between the oil pan and the transmission. there's one bolt at the top that will need to be loosened from the top of the car. It's a blind task, because you have to just feel around for it, you can't see it. But don't take it all the way out, just loosen it enough to slide the flywheel inspection cover down. It's got a slot cut out of it, that fits around that top bolt, that allows it to slide down once the bolt is backed out a little. Then from below the car, the inspection cover can be manuevered down and out.
9. on the hose on the rear of the oil pan, slide the hose clamp on the passenger side of the hose towards the middle (so it's not clamping anything). You may want to mess around with it, trying to break it's seal. I used a screwdriver, and just kind of pryed on it a little.
10. remove all of the bolts and nuts from the oil pan. I've heard it can come off easily... but mine did not. I ended up having to hammer a flat-head screwdriver into the front and back driver's side corners of the oil pan, so the screwdriver went down the length of the oil pan's lip. Try to keep the screwdriver close to the outside edge, as there are little bumps on the lip, that you don't want to damage.
11. once the oil pan is free, and is hanging from the hose that step 9 talked about, you'll work that hose free so the oil pan can be taken out and cleaned up.
12. clean everything up, removing all the oil and grime. And make sure the mating surface on both the block and the oil pan are clean and smooth. Also, make sure the mating surface on the oil pan is flat, without any curves or anything from prying it loose.
13. attach the new hose to the oil pan, and as you're putting the oil pan on, have a second person reach up and slide the hose over the fitting.
14. once everything's clean, and ready to be reassembled, use RTV sealant on the four corners of the block's mating surface, and a little in the middle, then push the gasket up onto it. On the gasket, one end has little tabs on the corners, that's the driver's side end of the gasket. I've read to make sure that the gasket's on, and the oil pan is on within three minutes of application of the RTV sealant. There is an order to follow when tightening down the bolts/nuts on the oil pan so the gasket seats properly. Starting with the middle two nuts (middle one on the front and middle one on the rear of the oil pan), those two are 1 and 2, then go to the two bolts to the right of the middle, and those two are 3 and 4, then go to the two bolts to the left of the middle two nuts, and those are 5 and 6. Then the two bolts to the right of 3 and 4, are 7 and 8... and so on. It just alternates like that until they're all taken care of.
17 13 9 5 1 3 7 11 15
18 14 10 6 2 4 8 12 16
And i've read that they should all be torqued anywhere from 7 to 9lbs. Try to keep them all pretty close to the same number of lbs.
15. pry the old gaskets out of both ends of the exhaust pipe, and clean the mating surface of the pipe -a wire brush works pretty well. Then insert the new gaskets.
16. from here on out, it's pretty much just reverse of the removal.
Make sure to get that top bolt tightened around the top of the flywheel inspection cover. That's an easy one to forget.
After it's all back together, and you've already filled the oil to the proper capacity, run the car while it's still lifted, and watch for any drips or leaks.
GREAT