oil pan gasket

[phunkatek]

I picked up a new oil pan from the junkyard with the gasket still attached- what's the best way to remove it? Or do you just pry it off?

[ExplodingCake]

Yep but carefully

[jhondayaaj]

if it's hard like a rock, then use a torch and heat the old gasket off while you use a flat head screwdriver prying it off.

[Lonehousewife]

You can use a flat head screwdriver, but I would wrap the tip in some cloth or a rag so that it won't gouge or nick the mating surface as easily.

[wed3k]

seriously...a wire wheel attachment or razor.

[sam o nela]

^ Yup....best bet for the layman...just take it easy and dont over torque it on install lol

[Leung]

i've always used this tool that has a wide head on it for scraping off gaskets.

[bruno8747]

The oil pan gasket is rubber. Its not the paper variety found on the intake manifold. The rubber gasket should be easy to pull off by hand. There should be little to no scraping to get it off.

[NAiL05]

I always used a razor blade to get the small parts and break it loose

[jhondayaaj]

I guess you guys haven't done a oil pan gasket that has gotten hard, and sticks to the pan yet, huh??

[benji]

I guess you guys haven't done a oil pan gasket that has gotten hard, and sticks to the pan yet, huh??

Lol, I have. I usually use a putty knife, and try to keep my angle of attack as shallow as possible so I don't cut into the surface. Usually for stuff like that, once you get it started a little the rest will go pretty easy, and you'll just have to use the knife in a few places. Wire wheel on a drill works good to really clean it up, but be careful you don't get aggressive with that, either, cause you can still draw lines in the metal if you really push on it.

When you put it on, you ought to try putting a thin layer of Silicone gasket maker around the pan, then put the rubber gasket on before it sets up. If you let it sit for a few minutes, so the silicone sets up, then it will keep the gasket from squishing out as you tighten it down to specs. Just don't go too tight on the nuts and bolts, and then try to do things in a criss-cross pattern to spread the tension out as you tighten. If you start to see the gasket squish out, skip that spot to let the silicone dry a bit more before you tighten it down. You don't want to have to go back and do it again.

[nhia-cb7]

I guess you guys haven't done a oil pan gasket that has gotten hard, and sticks to the pan yet, huh??

[phunkatek]

Wow I guess it wasn't such a dumb question after all, thanks guys