Oil pan bolt broke off

[Mishakol129]

I am angry (at myself). I had my oil pan bolt break off on me because my torque wrench adjuster knob got loose and stopped working. I tried to drill the bolt out but could not get a good aim at it and so the hole was off centered. Made no progress there and actually made it worse. The darn bolt is burried in there and I don't know if i'll ever get it out, even with the pan off.

This was when I was installing a brand new oil pan. What I decided to do was to seal the side up (it was the upper left corner bolt) with rtv in hopes that it will be fine.


So will it be fine, has anyone ever used missed a bolt off an oil pan and still used it?

[esskater892]

sounds like a good plan man. have you tried using a smaller drill bit to make the hole and then using the extractor thing?

[Mishakol129]

sounds like a good plan man. have you tried using a smaller drill bit to make the hole and then using the extractor thing?

I did but it only made it harder to drill out. Couldn't drill it out center even though i used a center punch. I don't know what to do with it if I can't get it out besides get a bigger drill bit, drill it out and then tap a new thread.

I was almost done too, i was so irked when it happened.

It was bolt number 13

[Accrdwgnguy]

it'll be fine dude, relax.

Next time don't use a torque wrench on 6mm bolts, a 1/4in drive ratchet is fine.

[esskater892]

i take it you tried to use the extractor still? ive had them not be exactly in the center and it worked just was wobbley and once it had started to unbolt enough i was able to do the rest by hand.

but ya as long as you go around the whole corner with rtv and maybe further i think you should be alright.

[Mishakol129]

Thanks a lot guys, i'll see how it goes.

[Mishakol129]

I did an immaculate job of cleaning the mating surfaces and cleaned it off with carb cleaner. The gasket is a Fel-Pro "Permadry silicone gasket". The oil pan is brand new and was a tight fit on the block; not that it didn't fit right but that it fit very very well. Its an aftermarket one made by Spectra.

Knowing all that, I think I may have tightened it a little too tight. I heard it was bad if the gasket was poking out. Mine was a little poking out and more than a little in a couple places. So does that mean its going to leak even if everything else is perfect?


I guess there's no way to know for sure until I crank it up, gonna do that maybe tonight. I'd still like to hear your thoughts on the matter.


Thanks.

[ferenza]

Drive it around with ease for a couple of days and recheck it after your done driving it. You should be fine

[dj_ender]

I did an immaculate job of cleaning the mating surfaces and cleaned it off with carb cleaner. The gasket is a Fel-Pro "Permadry silicone gasket". The oil pan is brand new and was a tight fit on the block; not that it didn't fit right but that it fit very very well. Its an aftermarket one made by Spectra.

Knowing all that, I think I may have tightened it a little too tight. I heard it was bad if the gasket was poking out. Mine was a little poking out and more than a little in a couple places. So does that mean its going to leak even if everything else is perfect?


I guess there's no way to know for sure until I crank it up, gonna do that maybe tonight. I'd still like to hear your thoughts on the matter.


Thanks.

No, there shouldn't be any gasket sticking out you either didn't align the gasket right, or the bolts are too tight.

[Mishakol129]

No, there shouldn't be any gasket sticking out you either didn't align the gasket right, or the bolts are too tight.

I just test drove it after I replaced it. It didn't leak at all. I even launched it a few times. I'll be keeping an eye on it though.

[dj_ender]

I just test drove it after I replaced it. It didn't leak at all. I even launched it a few times. I'll be keeping an eye on it though.

Lol, it's going to take more than a day or 2 to fail. Could be weeks, months. All I'm saying is that you either over tightened it, or the gasket wasn't aligned right. The gasket should be flush with the block/pan, not sticking out/bulging.

[wed3k]

i said this in the other thread but its okay, don't listen to me....

"you rely on a torque wrench to set the torque but with a ratchet, you can feel the threads or the bolt let go and thats when you stop before something bad happens."

im going to stop giving out free advice like this because this is what separates professionals to amateurs.