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SteveC
Dodge Dakota
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1/30/2005
23:50:31

Subject: 4.7 oil pan extraction, got dynamite?
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Anyone have experience with pulling the pan off a 4.7? I'm trying to get mine open to have a look at the screen.

After the joy of getting the 4WD axle out, I have the "structural cover" removed, and all 18 bolts are out of the pan and accounted for.

but...

It Will Not Budge, no matter what. In fact, it acts as if it's still mechanically fastened to the engine somehow. But how?

The FSM is very specific about not prying it loose, and that the gasket/windage tray themselves are fastened to the bedplate. But it doesn't say how the pan might fasten to the gasket or tray internally (where it can't be seen).

If I put any more pressure on a corner to try to pop it loose, I'm going to bend something and ruin it. This isn't just a sticky gasket.

Anyone else been here before?




DJ
Dodge Dakota
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1/31/2005
08:10:53

RE: 4.7 oil pan extraction, got dynamite?
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It's held on with sealant, not a gasket.
The Service Manual also shows the tool to use to break the gasket seal.



Dra
Dodge Dakota
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1/31/2005
14:12:43

RE: 4.7 oil pan extraction, got dynamite?
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You gotta break silicone seal,use a screwdriver or a gasket scraper, once you get it off you will have even more fun scraping the old silicone off.



SteveC
Dodge Dakota
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1/31/2005
23:17:49

RE: 4.7 oil pan extraction, got dynamite?
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DJ wrote:

->The Service Manual also shows the tool to use to break the gasket seal.

For which year? Mine is 2000, and it doesn't say anything like that. It says remove bolts, then remove pan, and warns me not to pry it off. Big help, they are...

Thanks.



DJ
Dodge Dakota
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2/01/2005
07:34:47

RE: 4.7 oil pan extraction, got dynamite?
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In the beginning of each major section of my 2004 FSM, there are illustrations, descriptions and numbers of all the tools or devices needed to perform the checks or repairs covered in that particular section.
Your 2000 manual may be laid out differently, but there should be a tool list in it somewhere.




SteveC
Dodge Dakota
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2/02/2005
12:02:11

RE: 4.7 oil pan extraction, got dynamite?
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There's a difference between manuals then. Mine has all the special tools at the end of the section (about 4 pages worth for this engine), and it doesn't show any tool for the pan.

2000 was the first year for this engine for the Dak (first seen 1999 for the Jeep GC), and I have a suspicion that they changed things as dealer shops got some experience with them...

That said, I have the pan off now. For the sake of others that might go down this road, here's what I found. Note this is a *2000* Dak 4x4 4.7L, it appears later years may be different.

* The gasket/windage tray is a thin metal tray fastened to studs in the bottom of the bedplate. The oil pickup runs throught it from the pan well to near the front of the engine. The gasket has a thin layer of rubber wrapped around the edges to form a seal between the bedplate and the pan. There was no sealant in this one.

* The gasket seal appears to want to bond to the paint on the pan way better than the bedplate steel (after 5 years and 75K miles). Thus, when you start to work the pan loose, the tray bends with it, creating the illusion that you're twisting the heck out of the pan. It's actually the tray doing all the bending.

* In all probability, there's no hope of salvaging the gasket/tray, despite the FSM saying it's "reusable". It will be trashed, a new one looks to be about $37.

* To break the pan/tray seal, try a small, thin screwdriver with almost a chisel point. I started it in near the starter, this was an easy place to work it loose. Once the bead breaks, start prying around the pan periphery. This is easier at the front if you remove the plastic air shroud between the bumper and the frame. Be prepared to cuss.

* The FSM claims that the front axle is all that has to be removed from the 4x4 to do this. I had to loosen the right side of the steering rack and lower it a small amount for the pan to come clear of the oil pickup tube.

If I find some time, I'll take a few pictures of what it looks like disassembled, that should help others out in the future. Thanks, guys...




sport
Dodge Dakota
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2/04/2005
19:45:25

RE: 4.7 oil pan extraction, got dynamite?
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Steve, thanks for the info, may come in handy sometime. So how does the pick up screen look?



SteveC
Dodge Dakota
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2/04/2005
20:04:57

RE: 4.7 oil pan extraction, got dynamite?
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Screen is clear, no metal or baked-solid crud. There was a few millimeters of goo in the the pan well, but it wasn't bad. Doesn't look like it would have caused any intake restriction.

Something's keeping it from coming all the way up...




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