Hey guys,

Here's the story for all that don't know. I have a 1994 chevy camaro 3.4. When I bought it 4 years ago it had a stripped drain plug in the oil pan. It always sealed up enough to stop a leak at the drain plug. Around March of 2003 I changed the oil and it no longer sealed up. I took it to one place which half as*ed fixed it and said no leak. Well it was still leaking. Took it to another place and they put some fancy drain plug in and said that should fix it. Well now almost a year later, yesterday I changed my oil through this vaccum deal that sucks it up the dipstick since I am scared to mess with the drain nut anymore, got it all out, put new oil in, started it up, drove it around, parked it. When I came back later that night it looked like some had leaked out of the drain nut again!. I can't believe this. It is so annoying it isn't even funny. I drove it to work and parket it on a slight angle towards the passenger side where the drain plug is and placed some cardboard under it. When I leave today I'll see how much dripped out. Usually I park on a hill where it puts all the oil in the back of the pan so it doesn't drip out of the plug area.

So now I must decide what to do. My car has 68k miles. I have endoured a blown head gasket, a load of sensors, a smog fail thanks to a EGR. I am at the point where I might consider selling it so I don't have to deal with this problem anymore. Nothing else seems to go wrong but this definately does.

My question is.........how much is it to replace the oil pan? I'd take it to the dealer to make them do it if it gives me a better warrenty then a mom and pop shop. I didn't plan on spending any money on it but I can't afford to have the motor blow up or go or die. I'd be willing to invest the $300-500 at the most to fix it so it doesn't happen again. I know the real fix is replacing the oil pan and pan gaskets since that has to happen with changing a oil pan. I am wondering how much a new oil pan and install would cost. I figure if I get it fixed now I can afford to keep it for another year or so and sell it. If it's like a $800 job then I'll have to think about JB welding the plug in and trading the car in and getting something else. I just don't want to keep dumping money into it.

So any suggestions on how hard it is to change this out? Could I do it with the car on ramps? I've never changed an oil pan but would be willing to try. How much would a shop/dealer want for the oil pan and to change it out? The only thing I can try at this point is to get on the drain nut with a wrench and snug it up and hope that stops the oil from leaking anymore. I may try and call the shop I had it done at and see if they can take a look at it again.

Any suggestions on this would be greatly appricated.

Chris

 

I had the same feeling with my 90 Firebird, I bought it and not a week later had to change the tranny mount, then a year later the transmission went out ($1500) then I had a damaged strut and strut tower and a gash in the oil pan and brocken motor mounts($900) then after about another year it sat because it was running crappy and had some electrical problems. One day i decided to give the car another chance, gave it a tune up, fixed the electrical my self and got the car back up an running and able to pass smog with flying colors. It really all depends I would say on how much you like the car. When i had the front struts replaced at midas the showed me under the lift the gash in the oil pan and was willing to do 2 things, 1) weld the gash or 2) replace it and they were gonna charge me about 260 i think for the pan and labor. At the time i didnt make enough and already forking out 900 bucks was way more than I wanted t spend so I opted for them to weld it in which its now 3 years later and it still works. So if you have a midas around there you might wanna check them out. I wont go there for anything else just cause they are high priced and want to always do other work on brake jobs that isnt needed.

 

I agree, as long as it's drivable and fixed I don't mind driving it, it is a fun car to drive. I don't want to spend that amount of money on it though, especially that quickly.

I think my goal or idea might be to save up until this time next year, trade it in, use some saved up money and get something I want that will last me. At this point insurance costs me a arm and leg. Gas prices high. What I need is a small'ish pickup.

I talked to the place that did the drain plug in the first place. They said friday they could take a look at it which I am greatfull for. Hopefully it doesn't need a new pan, that would suck big monkey nuts.

I'll keep ya guys posted

Chris

 

besides a new oil pan you have a few choices. You can retap the oil plug hole, with a bigger thread and get a bigger plug, a machine shop or just about any shop can do this if you dont want to attempt it, or you can get a quick change oil plug that has a valve on it. When you get it, you epoxy the threads before you tighten it, and then when it dries, there should be no leaks and you can use the vavle for your oil changes, not mention easier oil changes. I think you can get a quick change plug for about 20 bucks. Hope that helps you out, and you dont need a new oil pan. Although their not that much and arnt bad to install.