oil pan

I have to change the oil pan on my 1996 ranger. Can anyone tell me the best way to do this. It appears as if i will have to pull the engine and transmission out to do this. There just isn't enough room to take the pan off.
Thanks
John13131311

I have to change the oil pan on my 1996 ranger. Can anyone tell me the best way to do this. It appears as if i will have to pull the engine and transmission out to do this. There just isn't enough room to take the pan off.
Thanks
John13131311


sounds like an awful lot of work to me, are you sure there isnt a crossmember you can take off to give you more room? if you jack up the front end will it change the position of the suspention enough to help?

i would browse a haynes manual or a chiltons to see what they suggest. most auto parts stores have them out on a rack where u can look at them without buying one, but they are like 15/20 bucks usually and are good to have on hand for lots of things. i personaly think chiltons is better

The only way I'd suggest doing this, other than engine removal, is to take the motor mount nuts/bolts out, and trans mount nuts off and raise the motor/trans as high as it can go in the chassis. Be careful of the radiator fan hitting the shroud. Its probably best to disconnect the shroud and also be careful of the intake hitting the firewall or wiper motor. It may not be enough yet, but then again, it may me the clearance you need. I don't know what eng/trans you have, but good luck. You just may need to remove the engine, I don't know for sure.

The '85 Ranger manual(Helms) has you dropping the pan,& then the oil pump into the pan.This is after raising the engine as far as possible.This with a 2.8 V-6 4X4. I ended up pulling the engine.

I know the 90 model service manual references removing the engine completely while the Haynes manual references removing the motor mount bolts and jacking the engine up for clearance. I have to replace my oil pan gasket myself but hopefully I can wait until next spring. Having looked under the truck and not being an expert mechanic it looks like there would be enough clearance to get the pan off while possibly having to rotate the crankshaft a few times but without taking the engine out.

I hear it's difficult to do it while the engine is in the truck.. Most people prefer to just pull the engine, though it should be possible. I suppose it would depend on the repair... I know I wouldn't want to replace bearings while it's in the truck, but I might attempt that if I only needed to change the gasket.. Though, I can still see it being awkward getting the new gasket on under the truck..

I think you also must take off the oil pump suction tube as well, but I am sure you'll find all of that out when you're there...

Pete

i just had this done to my '96, and they had to pull the engine due to a crossmember, which unfortunately is welded in place.

For what it's worth,I had pin hole leaks in my '96 F-250's pan , & I brazed them a few years back. So far, no problems.

I know this thread is old but I found it helpful in doing an oil pan so I figure I would update it.

91-99 Rangers are all the same. The vehicle in question was a 99 ford ranger 4x4 auto tranny. Disconnect motor mounts, disconnect tranny mounts, disconnect radiator, disconnect fan from shaft, and disconnect fan shroud. Doing this will allow just enough room. You may have to move a couple things around on the wiper motor. Jack up the motor with a tranny jack stand from the bottom (other methods are available to raise motor). We pushed up on the crank pulley. Pan slid right out the back. No need to pull the motor if you take the time to figure it out and be patient.

-Kenny Kline