I took my XKR to get it's first oil change since I purchased it. The oil is pretty clean but I figured better swap it out any way. I took it to the shop and the shop manager told me that the oil pan needs replacing as something struck the pan and its dented. This is true as I did hit a large rock on the road recently. She said that if they were to remove the oil drain plug they wouldn't be able to put it back on. So she quoted me a decent price. What do yall think does it really need replacing??

 

My 2 cents worth. For sure replace it, especially since you were quoted a decent price. I would be worried about getting the plug back in and sealed. Plus, just knowing it is dented like that would drive me crazy.

 

Just my

I don't see that its really "that" deformed and it doesn't look to be leaking as far as I can see....perhaps you can advise differently?

IMO If the drain plug is in there and not leaking at the moment, when they put it back, presumably with a replacement washer it should seal again fine I would have thought!

Please get other advice, but as I say IMO its overkill


Please keep us informed as to which way you decide to go.........

 

Unnecessary. Unless it really bothers you.

 

I don't see why it wouldn't go back in. The bolt was tight when it got struck, so the flat part of the bolt has kept the metal in the pan flat right there where the bolt goes through the hole, so it should go back in without a problem.

Having said that, It wouldn't hurt to have a new pan handy just in case...

 

My $.02:

Safer for the shop manager to notify you of the oil pan issue and advise replacement.

It probably won't leak if it hasn't already.

I did an oil pan on my XJR. Cost me $150 from the dealer and a couple of hours, it was an easy fix on that car.

If it were mine I would fix it, and consider it cheap insurance against a potential disaster or major inconvenience. It would nag me.

My brother, who is much more mechanically inclined and car savvy, would drive it to it's grave with the dented oil pan. But then again, his current car is an older XJR that he bought for $800. It caught fire the day he bought it.

 

Meh, ive seen alot worse. I just change the plug

 

I'd try to keep it. The only dent I'd worry about would be if it were more central near the oil pick up tube/filter. Just be sure to use a new crush washer.

Even if it does leak, it will only drip and give you plenty of time to find a replacement. I have had mine off, and it was not a big job. Just a lot of torx bolts around the perimeter of the pan edge. Likewise, the pan seal is easy to install. gordo

 

Use a little thread seal on the plug then you not only relying on the washer to seal.
I usually put a little PTFE tape around the outside part of the thread.

Bob

 

hmm. I just noticed you not only hit the bottom, but pushed the area back. Ide replace that. Just do it next oil change and if you DIY it youll save some money, its not hard

 

I had a tire guy use my pan as a crossmember for jacking the car and dented it in the middle pretty badly, I replaced it. Yours looks to have a crease in the metal, never know if it might start to leak from fatigue. I would replace it.

 

These pans are quite a heavy gauge pressed steel, might take some time to cause in real issue..... For my money I would change it, as brutal has said it is easy to do, next time you do an oil change fit a new sump, they come complete with a gasket and new plug, here in the UK they are about $120, I can't imagine they are that much more or less in the US

 

So I took the car in and told her to go ahead and change the oil and that I didn't want the pan replaced. She said okay, but if the plug did not go back into place she would have to swap out the pan. She said she worried that the interior washer in the oil pan would be broken but she hoped for the best. . We'll see how this pans out. I do want to swap out the pan but not now and not if it's not an immediate problem.

 

Hope it works out for you, you have a lady mechanic?

 

She is the Shop Manager.

 

I was afraid that may be the case. :-(

 

FWIW, and there's always got to be one of us out there, I haven't pulled a plug in years. I've owned several boats and the only way to change the oil is to suck it out, so that's what I've done on my cars too. No worries about leaks. I use a Topsider hand pumper and there are several brands out there that will work.

 

This pops up now and then from the boat guys. I dont think that using a suction device does the best oil change since the idea is to get all the old contamination out, both liquid and solid. The suction device does not dependably do this as well as a good pan draining. I use my suction device only to remove overfills, but not to change the oil. Keep in mind that the most dangerous contamination is the acids that develop, they are water based and settle in the lowest place. These acids if concentrated enough, can do serious damage to rings and bearing shells. You never know for sure the suction hose gets it but you do know that the drain plug at the lowest point in the pan will.

 

The washer is actually in the sump plug not the pan, the only time you might have an issue is if the sealing face was warped on the pan, pretty thick piece of metal, I would be surprised.

 

So I had the oil change done on my car,it was leaving a half dollar size puddle after so I went ahead and changed the oil pan.