Lower oil pan replacement OEM vs. Aftermarket

[Ntatum]

I'm going to be replacing my lower oil pan because of a stripped thread on my drain bolt, and wanted to know if anyone else had done this. I've got the Bently manual and am not worried about the procedure. I am concerned however about the replacement part itself. I've been looking at both ECS and partsgeek, and they both have the OEM replacement pan for a little over 200. There is however, another option that is 80. Anyone ever use either Hamburg-Technic or MTC parts?

[Nizmo]

They do make oil drain plugs with gaskets specifically for bad threaded pans.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/rn...rvNxoCT_fw_wcB

Def. only a temp fix!

[D's Avant]

I have used both brands you mention above on my B5 Avant with no real concerns. For some reason I have been using more OEM parts on my C6.

Thinking it would be pretty hard to get the oil pan wrong, OEM if you plan to keep the car another 5+ years would be my vote, otherwise aftermarket.

[skylinrcr01]

You could get a mighty vac and never have to go under your car and remove the drain plug again. I use it on my car, and my mom's E350.

[c@@kieMonsta]

You could get a mighty vac and never have to go under your car and remove the drain plug again. I use it on my car, and my mom's E350.

Is there one you recommend for oil changes on our vehicles?

[skylinrcr01]

I have this one. http://www.amazon.com/Mityvac-7201-F.../dp/B0002SR7TC It works for tranny flushes too (not on the a6 though, stupid lifetime fill), and pretty much anything that has a dipstick tube. Most Japanese cars have the filter towards the bottom of the engine though, so it's a bit less effective on them since you have to get under them to get at the filter.

[Nizmo]

I have this one. http://www.amazon.com/Mityvac-7201-F.../dp/B0002SR7TC It works for tranny flushes too (not on the a6 though, stupid lifetime fill), and pretty much anything that has a dipstick tube. Most Japanese cars have the filter towards the bottom of the engine though, so it's a bit less effective on them since you have to get under them to get at the filter.

Those work great.

Wont help you fill fluids tho.....:/

[skylinrcr01]

Those work great.

Wont help you fill fluids tho.....:/

It pumps too, so I don't see why it wouldn't.

[Nizmo]

It pumps too, so I don't see why it wouldn't.

I guess technically you could, but since were on the topic of sucking out your used dirty oil, I wouldn't use this same vac to pump in lets say tranny fluid.

As with anything, of course you could, but its contaminated, and would never be 100% clean again.

[cal3thousand]

I have the same MityVac pump and have not removed an oil pan plug in the 3 years that I have owned the pump. I also plan on using it for pumping my diff and tranny fluids this summer. Well worth the money.

[skylinrcr01]

I have the same MityVac pump and have not removed an oil pan plug in the 3 years that I have owned the pump. I also plan on using it for pumping my diff and tranny fluids this summer. Well worth the money.

I was thinking of using it for the trans, do you think you'll still have to drop the pan?

[cal3thousand]

Yes, procedure would be the same. You'll want to drop the pan and replace the filter.

I'd be using it just as a pressure pump. I won't put the fluids straight into pump, but feed a line from the pump into another container that has a straw to the bottom. This will keep me from having to clean out all the old oil residue before using it for the Tranny and be sure I'm only putting in pure fluid.

[skylinrcr01]

Mmk. Lmk how it goes! Are you going to use lifeguard or another fluid? Lifeguard is like unicorn blood expensive, I was thinking of using something else.

[cal3thousand]

Mmk. Lmk how it goes! Are you going to use lifeguard or another fluid? Lifeguard is like unicorn blood expensive, I was thinking of using something else.

I'm going with Lifeguard 8. Got a case of 12 for $270 shipped to my door from CTSC. It's expensive when you think it's 12 liters of fluid, but I should have extra (to sell off) and I will likely only have to do this once ever.