GM 12641015 Pan Assembly, Oil (Rwd)

To remove the oil pan, first disconnect the cable from the negative battery terminal. Raise the vehicle securely on jackstands, drain the engine oil, and remove the oil filter, followed by the air filter housing and air intake resonator. Disconnect the front exhaust Y pipe from the engine and exhaust system, although this is not strictly necessary, it aids in the oil pan removal. Remove the starter motor and the plastic covers on each side of the bellhousing. Detach any wiring harness brackets connected to the oil pan and those securing the transmission oil cooler lines, if equipped, and disconnect the electrical connector from the oil level sensor located on the right side of the oil pan. Attach a support fixture to the engine and raise it slightly to allow for the removal of the engine mount through-bolts or the engine mount-to-subframe bolts. Lift the engine approximately 1/2-inch, ensuring no upper engine components or wiring harnesses are obstructing. Unbolt the shock absorbers from the lower control arms and loosen the steering shaft coupler from the steering gear, then loosen the front suspension subframe bolts four to five turns to create clearance for the oil pan removal, taking care not to loosen them more than five turns without proper support. Remove the transmission-to-oil pan bolts, and if equipped, take out the engine oil cooler lines and adapter from the driver's side of the oil pan. Remove any access plugs covering the nuts at the rear of the oil pan, then take out all the oil pan bolts and lower the oil pan from the engine, using a rubber mallet if necessary to break the gasket seal. For installation, remove the old gasket and wash the oil pan with solvent, then clean the mounting surfaces of the oil pan and engine block thoroughly. Apply a 0.2 inch (5 mm) wide bead of RTV sealant to the corners of the block where the front and rear covers meet the engine block, attach the new gasket to the oil pan, install it, and tighten the bolts lightly, ensuring proper alignment of the oil gallery passages. Measure the clearance between the rear face of the aluminum oil pan and the front face of the transmission bellhousing, ensuring it is flush, and if acceptable, tighten the oil pan bolts/studs in sequence to the specified torque. If not, install the two lower oil pan-to-bellhousing bolts and tighten them finger tight to draw the oil pan flush. Finally, complete the installation in reverse order, refill the engine oil, start the engine, and check for leaks before driving.

Before proceeding with the removal of the oil pan, one requires to have the air conditioning system evacuated by a professional then pull the cable of the negative terminal of the battery. Lift the vehicle properly with jackstands remove the engine oil from it and then proceed to remove the oil filter then the air filter housing and air intake resonator. Subsequently, disconnect all the wiring harness brackets which are attached near the oil pan also the brackets which secure the transmission oil cooler lines on the passenger side to be undone; finally pull the electrical connector from the oil level sensor present on the right side of the oil pan. It is not completely necessary, but remove the front exhaust pipes from the engine and the rest of the exhaust system to make the oil pan removal easier. Pull the starter motor and the two hourly plastic housings on each side of the bell housing, besides, disconnect the ac line to the compressor and cover. Place a support handle above the engine so that the engine can be lifted a little in order to carry out the removal of engine mount nuts and the mount which joins the subframe. Nuf that nu subframe, nad complete the removal of the transmission to oil pan bolts. If so fitted, undo the engine oil cooler line and the adaptor from beside the driver's side of the oil pan, and also the access plugs over the nuts at the rear of the oil pan. Last of all, take out all the oil pan bolts and drop away the oil pan from the engine, it might be required to use rubber mallet in order to break the gasket. For installation, and for removal you should also remove the gasket, and flush the oil pan with solvent and clean the oil pan gasket mating surface and the engine block mounting surface. Run a thin RTV sealant up to 0.2 inch wide along the seams of where the front and rear covers meet the engine block, put the new gasket onto the oil pan and install it and at this time tighten the bolts to finger tight while also making sure that the oil gallery passages are properly aligned. Check the fit between the rear wall of oil pan and the front wall of the trans housing, and if clear and interlocking, then slowly tighten the oil pan bolts in a star pattern till you get the torque specified for it. It is recommended to reinstall the subframe, then reverse the removal procedure, replace the oil in the engine, start the car, and assure that there are no leaks driving the car.

The oil pickup can be removed once the bolts in the bottom of the oil pan are taken out, and the oil pickup oil seal should be discarded.

Tighten the oil pan-to-engine block bolts gradually in a criss-cross pattern from the center outwards to the specified torque.

Add the proper type and quantity of oil, start the engine, and check for leaks before placing the vehicle back in service.