3FE oil pan gasket install tricks

[pawnthatdude]

Just adding my tid bits.

Getting the semi circles of the gasket to seat flush was a bit challenging. They don't exactly match unless you put some pressure on them. I ended up using some clamps to hold the corners down while the FIPG set.

If you have stock height (or saggy old suspension like me), you can get more room for removing/installing the pan by jacking up the frame as high as you can go to let the suspension droop (wheels don't need to leave the ground). This increases the distance you have between the engine and the axle housing.

When installing, the bolts are frustratingly short. I tied the pan to the block with zip ties at first so I could maneuver the pan without holding all the weight of it. It doesn't feel very light after the first few minutes of holding it over your head cursing the pan-gasket-block bolt alignment.

 

[Unoman]

Fel-Pro Snap Ups work amazingly well and I'll never do another oil pan gasket without them.

Installing Oil Pan Gaskets with Snapups®

Fel-Pro SnapUps provide the solution to the difficult task of installing oil pan gaskets in your engine.

www.felpro.com

 

[Michael Hanson]

Hi, Or use Clecos to hold up the pan. Mike

 

[simmba]

Replaced my oil pan using all yalls great advice. Thanks for all the tips! Also replaced the little gaskets between the oil outlet pipe and oil pump strainer (which i heard go bad so good to do while you have the pan off).

Filled it back up with 8.5qt of oil which is what the FSM recommends when filling from dry. But now noticing a rough idle that was not there before. Any ideas of something i could have done to cause this?

 

[kennycody]

Robbie Antonson (powderpig on MUD and Tech Editor of TT) showed me a pretty simple way to install the gasket correct every time:

1. Remove pan and remove old gasket material from both the pan and the block side. Clean well till all traces of cork are gone.

2. Inspect pan to make sure it doesn't leak. Some of the older ones are now.

3. Put Toyota FIPG (black: 00295-00103) and put it on the pan flange mating surface going around the outside of the bolt holes. Make sure to put some on both the front and rear pan arches.

4. Take pan gasket and put it on correctly lining up the bolt holes. Make sure you are doing this on a table or flat surface.

5. Take the 22 pan bolt and put them into the holes from the gasket side down. Let everything dry for about 20-30 minutes.

6. Have a few #6's.

7. Take bolts out. Your gasket should be stuck well to the pan. If it isn't (i.e., you live in a humid environment), let it dry some more. (Have a few more #6's).

8. Take pan and crawl under your rig and put pan up to block: everything should line up really well. Clean bolts and reinstall.

9. Put oil in and check for leaks.

10. Enjoy a few #6's for a job well done.

Hey man, thanks for the advice here. I will be using your process to install. Since it seems you are pretty knowledgeable with the 3FE oil pan, do you know if the motor has to be raised to remove the oil pan or can you get it out by removing the sway bar, links, and letting the front suspension hang? I have been trying to find the answer to this everywhere and I am getting mixed advice to the point of needing a few #6's

 

[diesellibrarian]

Hey man, thanks for the advice here. I will be using your process to install. Since it seems you are pretty knowledgeable with the 3FE oil pan, do you know if the motor has to be raised to remove the oil pan or can you get it out by removing the sway bar, links, and letting the front suspension hang? I have been trying to find the answer to this everywhere and I am getting mixed advice to the point of needing a few #6's

You don't need to remove anything to drop the oil pan.

 

[kennycody]

You don't need to remove anything to drop the oil pan.

even on the fj80? I guess I didn't specify I have a 92 and not an FJ62. Appreciate the quick reply!

 

[diesellibrarian]

even on the fj80? I guess I didn't specify I have a 92 and not an FJ62. Appreciate the quick reply!

You posted in the 60 series section so I assumed it was on a 62. No idea what is required for an 80.

 

[kennycody]

You posted in the 60 series section so I assumed it was on a 62. No idea what is required for an 80.

Apologies, I'm brand new to the forum and still figuring it out lol

 

[John McVicker]

This is how I did mine in 2018. Semi daily driver & no leaks.