How to Change an Oil Pan Gasket in Chevrolet Cars

A Chevrolet car. The oil pan is located on the bottom in the center of the engine block. The oil pan gasket will be between the engine block and the oil pan on the oil pan edge. The oil pan gasket seals the oil pan to the engine and stops the engine oil from leaking while the engine is running. If you notice oil leaking around the edges of the oil pan, it's important to replace the gasket to protect both your investment in the Chevrolet car and the environment.

Under The Hood:

• How to Change an Oil Pan Gasket in a 1999 Cavalier
• How to Change the Oil Pan Gasket on a 4.3 Blazer
• How to Replace the Oil Pan Gasket in a Chevy Silverado
• How to Replace the Oil Pan Gasket in a Chevy Camaro

 How to Change an Oil Pan Gasket in a 1999 Cavalier

Disconnect the negative battery cable by unscrewing the battery cable bolt in the center of the cable end using an 8-mm wrench. The battery in the Cavalier is located in the driver-side front of the engine compartment in front of the air filter housing.

Place wheel chocks behind the rear wheels and set the parking brake securely. Raise the front of the car using a floor jack positioned under the front sub-frame, until the front wheels are off the ground. Place jack stands under each side of the sub-frame and lower the car onto the stands. Slide the floor jack out from under the car.

Place a drain pan under the oil pan, located on the bottom of the engine, and remove the drain plug. Drain the engine oil into the drain pan until it only drips. Reinstall the drain plug and remove the oil filter.

Remove the 10-mm bolts that attach the heat shield to the top of the exhaust pipe using a 10-mm wrench. Slide the shield out of the engine compartment. Remove the 15-mm bolts that attach the exhaust pipe to the exhaust manifold using a 15-mm socket, a long extension and a ratchet. Pull the exhaust pipe down for clearance when pulling the oil pan out.

Remove the two 15-mm starter bolts and the 10-mm rear starter support bolt using a ratchet and 15-mm socket. Allow the starter to hang from the engine. Remove the 10-mm bolts that attach the plastic inspection cover to the transmission, and lay the cover aside.

Remove the 10-mm bolts that attach the oil pan to the engine block and drop the pan down. Slide the pan past the exhaust and out from under the car.

Clean the gasket surface on the engine block with parts cleaner. Screw the four plastic alignment pins, supplied in the gasket kit, into the engine block at the four corners of the gasket surface. Align the gasket with the block and push the gasket onto the alignment pins.

Align the new pan with the engine block and push it onto the alignment pins. These plastic pins hold the gasket and pan in place while you install the pan bolts. Install the oil pan bolts and tighten them to 89 inch-pounds using a torque wrench. Remove the four alignment pins and install bolts in their place. Then tighten the final four bolts to 89 inch-pounds.

Reinstall the transmission inspection cover, starter, oil filter and exhaust. Fill the engine with clean oil and start it. Check for leaks before raising the car off the stands using the floor jack and removing the stands. Lower the car to the ground.

 How to Change the Oil Pan Gasket on a 4.3 Blazer

Lift the right-front side of the Blazer using the jack and rest it onto a jack stand. Position a drain pan under the oil pan drain plug and then remove the plug using the ratchet set. Drain the oil into the drain pan.

Replace the plug to the bottom of the oil pan and tighten the plug until it is snug. Remove the bolts from around the oil pan using the ratchet set and tap the side of the oil pan until it comes off the engine block.

Scrape the oil pan gasket off the oil pan using the screwdriver. Make sure that all of the gasket has been removed. Place the new oil pan gasket onto the edge of the oil pan and replace the oil pan to the bottom of the engine block.

Replace the bolts to the edge of the oil pan. Tighten the bolts in an X pattern to 41.9 foot-pounds using a torque wrench. Remove the drain pan from under the Blazer. Raise the Blazer using the jack and remove the jack stand. Lower the Blazer to the ground.

 How to Replace the Oil Pan Gasket in a Chevy Silverado

Park the Chevy Silverado on a level surface and block the rear wheels to keep them from rolling.

Put a large bucket under the oil pan, and use a socket wrench to remove the drain plug, which will be located next to the oil filter, in the rear part of the oil pan. Let the oil drain into the bucket.

Remove the oil pan skid plate if your Chevrolet Silverado is a 2-wheel drive vehicle. Disconnect the crossbar, oil level sensor connector. From the lower oil pan, remove the nuts and bolts and oil pan and oil pan from the lower crankcase.

Wipe out the oil pan with a clean cloth or paper towel and wipe the sealing surfaces with solvent to be sure they're completely free of debris.

Apply a thin bead of sealant to the sealing surface and carefully attach the new oil pan gasket.

Reattach the oil pan, fastening the bolts securely. Replace the oil level sensor connector, crossbar, and the oil pan skid plate, if applicable.

Refill the engine with oil and check the level with a dipstick. Pour the old oil into an empty milk carton and dispose of it at a garage or at your neighborhood hazardous waste facility.

 How to Replace the Oil Pan Gasket in a Chevy Camaro

Lift the front end of the Camaro with a jack and support it securely on a jack stand. Block the rear wheels to keep them from rolling. Disconnect the negative battery cable before proceeding.

Crawl under the vehicle and locate the drain plug on the bottom of the oil pan. Put a bucket under the drain plug, and remove the plug with a socket wrench. Let the oil drain into the bucket, and then replace the drain plug.

Drain the Camaro's cooling system and remove the wiring harness clips from the oil pan. Disconnect the oil level sensor connector, then remove the sensor. Disconnect the crossover pipes on the exhaust manifold and take off the bolts or screws holding the exhaust pipe hanger.

Remove the starter motor. If your Camaro has an automatic transmission, remove the bolts or screws holding the converter cover, and then remove the cover. Remove the bolts or screws holding the engine mount-through.

Raise the engine with an engine jack. The engine must be high enough to remove the oil pan. Remove the bolts or screws holding the oil pan. You may need to rotate the crankshaft.

Scrape off the old gasket, and wipe the surface well with solvent. Wipe out the inside of the oil pan. Apply a small amount of sealer to the engine block junction, front cover and oil seal housing, and spread it an inch in each direction from each spot.

Replace the oil pan gasket and tighten the bolts according to specifications. Lower the engine carefully, and reattach the engine components in the reverse order that they were removed. Remove the car from the jack stand , fill the crankcase with approximately 4 quarts of oil, and check the level with a dipstick.