A couple of days ago I noticed a couple of oil stains on the parking spot where I keep my Camaro. I've also noticed a couple of drops of oil at some other places where I park my car. My first thought was the main seal needed to be replaced, but since I was due for an oil change, I thought I would look things over when it was up on the lift.

When I was changing the oil I noticed some severe rust on the front of the pan. The rust was so bad you could pull chunks of rust off with your fingernail. I suspect i have a tiny leak from the rust but I have never hear of someone replacing a pan due to rust issues. I do live in in the northern climate and Illinois puts an obscene amount of salt down on the roads in the winter.

I didn't see any main seal leaks or any leaks up around where the pan meets the bottom of the engine. I did notice that I have a slight power steering pump leak and some of the fluid has drained down onto the front of the pan.

Is power steering fluid corrosive? Anyone know where I could get an oil pan for a 3.8 v-6 cheap?

 

Here in salty Illinois my friend, you bet oil pans rust out.
Along with everything else.
I've replaced many over the years.
The newer stuff has those cast aluminum pans and the only thing that gets them is hitting something.

Good luck,
Rob

 

After looking into it, the price to get one replaced in expensive. The first two dealerships I called wanted $775.00 and $842.00 to replace it. I guess you have to take the sub frame out and have the engine lifted from above to get the pan out.

The pan itself is $70.00 at Autozone.