jacking engine by oil pan

[lifeliberty]

I have to change out my tensioner and guides. so to get to them I have to take off the engine mount next to the timing cover. in doing so I have to support the engine. will I encounter any problems by putting a jack and block of wood under the oil pan? what should I be mindful of when doing so?

this thread had me thinking about it http://www.gaownersclub.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=62552

[Matt95GT]

Should be fine with a nice hefty chunk of 2x4. I would support it away from the [weaker] center of the pan... preferably use the corner on the side you're removing the engine mount.

[stevenr2185]

just use a block of wood like a 2x4 and all will be well.

[b2089]

I'm the one that advised against it. I've seen them held like that, but it's a rsik that doesn't need to be taken. I did see a pan shatter, and I didn't think aluminum was that brittle but I learned my lesson then. Actually it was a friend who did the jacking, but once was enough.

Your car should have an attached bracket to hold the engine. Put a chain on it and rent a lift or attach the chain to a solid support in the ceiling of your shop. There's no need to chance it.

Yes people do it and get by with it. Are you feeling lucky?

[VanishingImage]

if you can put something that will displace the weight some,jacking by the pan won't be bad. The reason people smash the pan is because they just use jacks and they don't displace the weight and you get a nice smashed or punctured oil pan

[Matt95GT]

Originally posted by b2089
Your car should have an attached bracket to hold the engine. Put a chain on it and rent a lift or attach the chain to a solid support in the ceiling of your shop. There's no need to chance it.


There's nowhere to safely attach a chain to support from the top of a 2.4 without getting in the way of the proceedure he needs to do in the timing housing side. It'll have to be supported from the bottom, or yanked out completely.

[b2089]

We used a block of wood the same size as the oil pan. It didn't bend or crush. That's the problem, it's brittle so we had no warning. It shattered like glass. We only had one mount off so maybe it put it in a bind. Perhaps if you take all the mounts off you can do it, or will tha make it worse?

Seriously though, there was a warning sticker on this car also, it was a 95 se I think and we read the sticker and laughed because people do this all the time. Just be very careful when you do it and I guess you'll be fine. The odds are with you.

[MantaGreen97]

^The warning sticker actually says do not lift the vehicle by the oil pan, it says nothing about the engine. Supporting the engine by the oil pan is accceptable.

In fact the [structural] oil pan on 3x00 engines actually has imprinted on it that you should use wood to distribute the weight/force when supporting the engine (I saw it under there the last time I changed the oil).

The fact that yours shattered may indicate there was already an exisiting flaw/fracture in the pan that was aggrevated by the force upwards on it and then it gave way...

The 2.4L may be different of course, and that's what the OP has anyway...

[stevenr2185]

Originally posted by b2089
We used a block of wood the same size as the oil pan. It didn't bend or crush. That's the problem, it's brittle so we had no warning. It shattered like glass. We only had one mount off so maybe it put it in a bind. Perhaps if you take all the mounts off you can do it, or will tha make it worse?

Seriously though, there was a warning sticker on this car also, it was a 95 se I think and we read the sticker and laughed because people do this all the time. Just be very careful when you do it and I guess you'll be fine. The odds are with you.

how did you feel after you laughed and then it broke?

[b2089]

Originally posted by stevenr2185
how did you feel after you laughed and then it broke?

Not too good. Oil was EVERYWHERE. Also I was surprised how hard it was to get the remaining shards of oil pan and gasket off the car, especially working ankle deep in kitty litter.

Now that I think about it, I do wonder why it shattered. Metal doesn't normally do that does it? It must have been a bad casting.

[Bumpin1OHM]

i always thought that the oil pans on our cars was magnesium..?

[daman]

Originally posted by Matt95GT
Should be fine with a nice hefty chunk of 2x4. I would support it away from the [weaker] center of the pan... preferably use the corner on the side you're removing the engine mount.

^^^ i agree, all you want to do is support it,, try not to
take on too much weight.

[lifeliberty]

this is the only thing I've read about supporting the engine

"attach an engine lift hook to the alternator stud ended bolt and support the engine support fixture. "

but jacking from beneath seems easier.

thanks for the replys

[Matt95GT]

Originally posted by lifeliberty
this is the only thing I've read about supporting the engine

"attach an engine lift hook to the alternator stud ended bolt and support the engine support fixture. "


Yea, problem is (on 92-95 2.3's at least), that lift hook needs to come off when pulling the timing cover off.