Oil Pan

Do you wonder what oil pans do? Oil pans are a major engine cooling system parts. They are usually constructed of thin steel and shaped into a deeper section to fully perform its function. It is also where the oil pump is placed. When an engine is not running or at rest, oil pans collects the oil as it flows down from the sides of the crankcase. In other words, oil pans that are mounted at the bottom of the crankcase serves as an oil reservoir. Engine oil is used for the lubrication, cooling, and cleaning of internal combustion engines.

At the bottom of the pan is the oil drain plug that can be usually removed to allow old oil to flow out of the car during an oil exchange. After the used oil drains out, the plug is screwed back into the drain hole. Drain plugs are often made with a magnet in it, collecting metal fragments from the oil. Some contains a replaceable washer to avoid leakage caused by corrosion or worn threads in the drain hole.

An oil pan is more prone to leaking compared to any other car parts. It is because it holds oil which is being thrown around and that oil will find a leak if there is one. So, for this reason, extra care should be applied when you are to install an oil pan. There are times where you can find that the metal at the bolt holes in the oil pan and front cover is being pushed inward around the bolt holes. This thing happens because, in an attempt to stop oil leaks, the bolts that hold them are over tightened which causes the gaskets to get smashed and the oil leak will just get worst. So, watch the gasket as you tighten the bolts, see to it that it is not being squeezed out from under the oil pan to prevent oil leaks.