Oil in the bilge, bad oil pan gasket?

[montejw360]

1980 Merc 470, I've got an oily bilge. I found a bad valve cover gasket and replaced that. Now I'm looking around with a mirror and find most of the oil pan bolts have a drop of oil hanging from it. Is if worth pulling the engine to replace the pan gasket?

Monte

 

[Don S]

Re: Oil in the bilge, bad oil pan gasket?

Is if worth pulling the engine to replace the pan gasket?

If you want to keep oil out of your bilge it is.

 

[montejw360]

Re: Oil in the bilge, bad oil pan gasket?

If you want to keep oil out of your bilge it is.

The bolts are loose. I'm getting a 1/4 turn or more on the ones I can reach. Probably still need to replace the gasket even if I could tighten them all.

Monte

 

[Stamey]

Re: Oil in the bilge, bad oil pan gasket?

I'd be tightening them first and cleaning it off to see if it still leaks. Sometimes you just need to tighten the bolts. Don't give yourself more work to do than necessary.
No chance you could drop the pan in the bilge and put a gasket on there, without having to pull the engine?

Chris

 

[montejw360]

Re: Oil in the bilge, bad oil pan gasket?

I'd be tightening them first and cleaning it off to see if it still leaks. Sometimes you just need to tighten the bolts. Don't give yourself more work to do than necessary.
No chance you could drop the pan in the bilge and put a gasket on there, without having to pull the engine?

Chris

No way to change gasket without pulling engine. Can't even tighten them all, can't get my hand in there.

 

[montejw360]

Re: Oil in the bilge, bad oil pan gasket?

I've pretty much resolved myself to pulling the engine and replacing the pan gasket. I'll do some of the other stuff suggested at the same time. Thanks all.

Monte