Replacing the Oil Pan Gasket on 81 Spider

[tedy]

I am going to attempt to replace the oil pan gasket on my 81 Spider. Apparently the previous owner did not care about oil on his driveway. Both of my manuals say to back off the nuts on the cross-member, remove the nuts on the bottom of the motor mounts and raise the engine. One says to use an engine hoist to raise the engine from the top, another says I can place a jack under the transmission to raise the engine. It would be great not to raise the engine to change the gasket, but I am guessing that it is not possible. I will try and put a jack under the transmission to get it done. Can anyone tell me how high I need to raise the engine to get the oil pan out?

[majicwrench]

Only advice I can give:

Are you SURE oil pan is leaking?? everybody likes to blame pan gasket. Everything drains ONTO PAN from above making it look like it leaks. You're the one looking at it, but generally the seals leak more than anything else.

And all these things drip something. Don't expect a nice clean driveway.

Got a scissor jack? Put it under balancer and pick up engine. Then put some hunks of lumber (1x4 etc) tween mount and frame to hold engine up. Make it as easy on yourself as you can.

Not a fun job. Make sure.

[4uall]

some former posts might help

http://www.fiatspider.com/f08/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=6031

http://fiatspider.com/f08/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=16649

[bradartigue]

I've done it a few times in-situ and I'd just say be prepared. If the PO used a sealant then you need to get the pan completely out (meaning you have to be able to reach in there and remove the oil pump by feel, which isn't really that hard) and be able to clean both surfaces. The old seal can be hard and stuck to the block regardless of sealant.

And, sometimes, you remove the pan and the thing just falls off clean. Hopefully that will be your situation.

Whatever the case make sure the engine is supported from above and below; once you get it up a ways off the x-member then block it with wood or something so it can't fall on your hands.

Oh did anyone say it's filthy work? Because it's...filthy...work.

[narfire]

Might be an idea to try and spray a can of engine cleaner and rinse off with the hose first....might help a bit. When mucking about with the engine I'll give the hands a good coating of hand lotion first( hands wash up easier) or use the silicone gloves.
I remember the pan gasket one of the things I did on my 70, 38 years ago. I ended up sawing my 13 mm in half to get at the oil pump bolts. Probably didn't really have to but at 17 years old I knew everything....
Chris

[fiat218]

Might be an idea to try and spray a can of engine cleaner and rinse off with the hose first....might help a bit. When mucking about with the engine I'll give the hands a good coating of hand lotion first( hands wash up easier) or use the silicone gloves.
I remember the pan gasket one of the things I did on my 70, 38 years ago. I ended up sawing my 13 mm in half to get at the oil pump bolts. Probably didn't really have to but at 17 years old I knew everything....
Chris

You still do know every thing

[paintdudeluke]

Do a degreaser soak then a pressure wash first. (not in your yard) Get it clean first then its like working on a helicopter,

[narfire]

Get it clean first then its like working on a helicopter,

Both can have their oil leaks...but Fiats are cheaper and easier to deal with.....

[bobplyler]

Both can have their oil leaks

What if it IS both?
http://www.aviastar.org/helicopters_eng/fiat-7002.php

[narfire]

Shaking my head... test pilots really earned their loot in those days...

Both can have their oil leaks

Helicopters have been described as 10,000 parts flying in close formation around an oil leak.

I suppose there could be similarities with our spiders....except the spiders aren't flying..

[4uall]

*AHEM

[spiderdan]

[fiat218]

You guys got to much time on your hands!

[JConnerly]

Words of advice I got from an Alfa owner " if your Italian car isn't leaking oil then you need to check the oil!" .

[bradartigue]

Words of advice I got from an Alfa owner " if your Italian car isn't leaking oil then you need to check the oil!" .

Concur. I'll take a small oil leak over a permatex-laden rebuild any day of the week.

My friend the former Alfa/FIAT/Porsche/Maserati dealer (when they were all sold on lots with trailers) tells me they'd put paper under the cars at night because they all leaked just a tiny amount, if they sat for a week or two then they'd have enough of a puddle to look like they were leaking. I said, well, they were leaking, to which he said, yeah but they stop when the engine warms up.