Oil pan sheared bolts

[Kruncher]

Completely non-Jeep specific related.

Installing a new oil level sensor today on another car, sheared off not one, but two bolts on the oil pan. I didn't have my lift, so tried to do this project with just jack stands' height; IOW, didn't have a lot of work to with. Apparently, 20 ft lbs of torque was enough to shear off the aluminum posts without two hands on the wrench! Ugh!

Anyway, anyone tap out new bolts on a aluminum oil pan? This is a '04 BMW E46. PITA to replace the oil pan.

Cheers,

Adam

 

[wayoflife]

Well that sucks. I bet the studs would come out just by using a left hand drill bit. If not, an easy out should do the trick.

 

[WJCO]

Completely non-Jeep specific related.

Installing a new oil level sensor today on another car, sheared off not one, but two bolts on the oil pan. I didn't have my lift, so tried to do this project with just jack stands' height; IOW, didn't have a lot of work to with. Apparently, 20 ft lbs of torque was enough to shear off the aluminum posts without two hands on the wrench! Ugh!

Anyway, anyone tap out new bolts on a aluminum oil pan? This is a '04 BMW E46. PITA to replace the oil pan.

Cheers,

Adam

Are the bolts stuck in the block? Or is the oil pan threaded? Post pics if you can.

 

[kevman65]

Bolts? Welded studs? Pressed in studs?

 

[kevman65]

After watching a video, no thanks to this job on this car.

If your bolts are aluminum, then yes, a screw extractor is what you need. I hope for your sake they are not in any of the deep, hidden locations.

 

[Kruncher]

Studs extending below the oil pan to mount the oil level sensor in the bottom of the pan, sheared off (part studs sticking out).

Did a brake job with my son's on his "new to him" car last week, and I stressed the importance of holding the torque wrench with two hands, to not apply any odd angle "torques" while wrenching.

Yeah, no thanks on this job; wondering if there was a way to drill & tap out new studs ... uggg.

 

[kevman65]

Well, good news if true.

Those studs are threaded both ends, AND are a separate replacement part.

So, again, some type of screw extractor and get them old studs out.

Part #2 in diagram.

https://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=EV53&mospid=47725&btnr=11_2187&hg=11&fg=10

 

[Kruncher]

ho-le-poo!

Never thought that! Dude, you are Rock Star!

 

[Kruncher]

Jacking the car back up ... will report back!

 

[Kruncher]

PB Blaster & a vice grip ... should do the trick.

I think there is enough of the studs to get a grip on. Now, if the local BMW dealership has the part!

 

[Kruncher]

Busy day.

found the parts, but the studs won’t separate from the oil pan.

actually leaving for a few weeks, garage is a mess, smells like a giant oil spill.

had to order a M6 extractor … ugh.
Wish me luck I don’t shear the 1/4 inch stud remaining!

 

[Kruncher]

Hit it with Kroil this afternoon … will let it sit for awhile. Will report back.

 

[jeeeep]

you may have to apply some heat directly to the stud, I've had other foreign vehicles and they use Loctite on the stud end which requires heat to remove.
I've used a soldering iron as well as a butane heat shrink melting torch to keep the heat isolated on the stud... careful to not catch anything else on fire.

When younger I loved foreign made cars...I'll never work on them again LOL

 

[Kruncher]

Yeah, I figured I'd need heat. Being the bottom of an oil pan attached to a car precludes open flames (still like the car); but I like the solder iron idea!

 

[WJCO]

 

[Kruncher]

Yeah, I figured I'd need heat. Being the bottom of an oil pan attached to a car precludes open flames (still like the car); but I like the solder iron idea!

Finally got those studs out! The engine was completely drained of any oil …realized I had a small oil leak (rear seal perhaps), so added some Lucas Oil Leak stuff … hated to hear the car start … but the metal on dry metal noise only lasted a couple seconds! Doh!

 

[Kruncher]

Finally got those studs out! The engine was completely drained of any oil …realized I had a small oil leak (rear seal perhaps), so added some Lucas Oil Leak stuff … hated to hear the car start … but the metal on dry metal noise only lasted a couple seconds! Doh!

 

[Kruncher]

Finally got those studs out! The engine was completely drained of any oil …realized I had a small oil leak (rear seal perhaps), so added some Lucas Oil Leak stuff … hated to hear the car start … but the metal on dry metal noise only lasted a couple seconds! Doh!

 

[Kruncher]

Apparently 3/8" extractor socket works on M6 bolts. thanks to my new best friend who lead me to the replaceable part!

traveling a lot lately, will post a picture of the last remaining stud that remained. Pulled that out too, even though it wasn't broken. Glad I removed it!

More later, be well!

Adam

 

[GP NOIR]

For future reference, crank the engine without starting it to build up oil pressure and get the oil flowing throughout the engine.

In JKs, you can do this by pressing the throttle to the floor and holding it there while cranking the engine. I don’t know if this works with other modern vehicles.