94 Eldorado Cast Aluminum oil pan

[doitmyselfer]

Just removed my leaking oil pan only to find out that it wasn't the gasket! The car (94 ETC) has 86K on it and has been progressively increasing in oil leakage since 65K. The pan is SEVERELY CRACKED at the trans end due to heat stress from the forward exhaust pipe! The problem was completely hidden by the exhaust pipe.

[caddydaddy]

So did you replace the oil pan?

[M.A.C]

I have a 94 Eldorado also and my oil pan is leaking from the gasket. Did you remove the engine to get at the oil pan?

[MasterMind1]

hate to break it to you buddy , but your exhaust heat didnt crack your pan, aluminum is non-ferrous and therfore doesnt become brittle from heat, several things can cause it to crack, but you might wanna take another look at for something that resembles an IMPACT !

[caddydaddy]

Originally Posted by MasterMind1

hate to break it to you buddy , but your exhaust heat didnt crack your pan, aluminum is non-ferrous and therfore doesnt become brittle from heat, several things can cause it to crack, but you might wanna take another look at for something that resembles an IMPACT !

Yeah, that's a good point. That was the first time I've heard of an oil pan cracking on a Northstar!

[MasterMind1]

I work for an independant cadillac repair shop,so we work on alot of northstars, nothing surprises me on them any more, had one in a few weeks ago 31,000 on it, had a crack in the block that wasnt even visible, except for the coolant leaking out through it !

[caddydaddy]

Originally Posted by MasterMind1

I work for an independant cadillac repair shop,so we work on alot of northstars, nothing surprises me on them any more, had one in a few weeks ago 31,000 on it, had a crack in the block that wasnt even visible, except for the coolant leaking out through it !

Yeah, but that's rare and can happen with any engine. I know of a Mustang with 5,000 miles on it that had a cracked block!