My car has a leak right under the timing chain cover, I though this was part of the entire main seal around the oil pan, am i right?. Is it possible to just replace the timing cover seal? If not, and I have to do the whole seal around the pan (which I prolly shold do anyways since parts are seaping a little), how big of a pain in the *** is it? do I need to jack the motor up some?

 

The bottom part of the timing cover seal IS the oil pan seal. I just finished up an engine install and I dont think it would be possible to drop the pan unless you unbolted the engine mounts and jacked the motor way up.

 

Since your car is an A4 you can drop your pan (and actually remove it I believe) without raising the motor. However, you don't need to actually take the pan out to replace the gasket. Just drop the pan on to the K-Member and after removing the old gasket via your process of choice, work the new gasket AROUND the oil pan up into position. Yes, it will stretch and make it without tearing, I've done this myself.

 

I can't see how you could take out the pan w/o raising the motor.. we *just* did this and it was a pain in the dick with the motor raised with a cherrypicker 6 inches up and the crossmember in the way.

 

I don't see any way to get the pan off unless you unbolt the motor mount through bolts and raise the motor up. Even then it's still gonna be tight.

Be sure and remove the low oil level sensor before dropping the pan or you will break it.

 

I have removed the pan on a Manual Trans Motor while in the car. I unbolted the motor mounts and picked up the motor w/ a cherry picker. Jacking the motor on the hub is not advisable as it can damage your bearings.

I gained some additional room by changing out my K-member bolts w/ longer ones and dropped my k-member down a couple of extra inces. I was able to remove the pan and change oil pumps.

Good luck

 

HAHAHHAHAHA, no.

DO NOT even try this without a cherry picker. Jacking it up by the hub is asking for the motor to fall on your hands. Trust me I tried it and about lost a couple fingers. Take the motor mount thru bolts out, take the bolt off the tranny mount and raise it up with a cherry picker as far as it will go.

Or you can do it the hard way and try and snake the gasket around in one piece and get oil all over it, have it not seal, and have to do it again. To do it right you need to take brake cleaner to all mating surfaces.

 

Why no?? There's more room under there with an A4, and I did this in my driveway with an M6 without lifting the motor up. I didn't take the pan out per se', but I did drop it and replace the gasket with no problems. You can snake the gasket around the pan and not have it leak, just gotta make sure everything is clean by taking your time and cleaning it prior to putting the new gasket in.

 

This guy knows what he's talking about folks. You dont have to remove the pan. Just loosen it, and let it rest on the k member. You can install the new gasket by pulling it over the outside of the pan. You may have to pull the dipstick tube up a few inches to get that part of the gasket lined up.

YOU DONT HAVE TO REMOVE THE PAN PEOPLE

 

I just prefer to do it where I'm not fighting the k-member and everything else. Pull the motor up with a cherry picker and the pan falls right out, you can take it and stick it on the bench and clean it up, then clean the block up real nice and seal it all back up. Took me about an hour from start to finish once I got the cherry picker hooked up to the motor.

 

Not everyone has a cherry picker. I dont. Ive done several on jackstands in my garage, without taking the motor mounts loose. None leak. Its not like there is a paper gasket to scrape off. Just soak a rag with parts cleaner, and wipe down the block and pan.

If I had a cherry picker, I might have done things your way though

 

It can be a pita if you have never done it before but possible

It is easier if you have small hands

 

Yeah I definitly dont have a cherry picture. If I only need to drop the pan an inch This should be tooo hard.

 

Here you go:

 

never did it with a cherry picker but i dropped the y pip and got an *** load more hand room. it takes 10 min to take the ypipe in and to put it up. it's takes more time to fight around it.