blown oil pan gasket

i've got a 99 merc sable wagon
earlier this week i checked my oil and it was rather low, it surprised me because its hasn't been that long since the last time i filled it up. i was getting my oil changed anyways in a few days so i decided to bite my lip and wait it out. i then discovered that i had blown the gasket on the oil pan. the mechanic told me that he's got a 2000 merc sable and he's had oil leak problems too, he didn't specify however that he blew his gasket.
i was curious whether or not this is a common problem on the 99 sables? although the car isn't maintained as well as it should be, i can't imagine blowing a gasket from just my daily commutes. any insights here?

-riu

You have an explosion in the engine pan or are you referring to an oil pan leak as "blown"? On occassion, an engine can develop an unexplained pan leak, the resolve is to replace the gasket.

I have a 2001 Taurus SES w/ 54k mi on it. I've gone through 2 oil pan gaskets, and my dad has gone trough one on his 1997 taurus. Both cars have the Vulcan engine. From what I've been told this is a common problem. :shakehead

The Vulcan engines do have this problem from time to time. Most of the ones that I have replaced are due to the P.C.V. system being plugged. The crankcase gases don't get recirculated and pressure builds in the engine blowing gaskets. Change and clean out the P.C.V. valve and hose every 30,000 miles, and do regular oil changes to reduce the sludge build up. :sunglasse