HELP! Problems removing oil pan on '88 CRX DX

[Louse76]

HELP! Problems removing oil pan on '88 CRX DX

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Well oil drain hole is screwed, so I need to take the oil pan off to get it retapped or replaced or something.

I took off the downpipe (lower part of header) and an engine brace or stiffener or whatever it is that was in the way and took off all of the bolts on the oil pan. Now the problem is that the flywheel cover seems to be in the way... what a stupid ass design!! So does this mean that I am going to need to remove the axle from the driver's side to get the oil pan out?! Is there some other way?! Please help!!

I would hate to have to remove the axle, that always gives me problems... but at least I have air now so it wouldn't be too horrible.

And while we're on the topic, can anyone tell me what other oil pans would fit on the 1.5L engine from the CRX (and what is the exact engine code again? I forget, I'm really an Integra guy). Also, I could probably just take the oil pan to a machine shop to have them re-tap the hole, right? Possibly move up to a larger size?

Thanks in advance for any help you can give!!!

[KoRnSaQ]

ok, i am not sure if there is any other way to take the oil pan off, i have always heard that it would be easier to take the engine out. but anyway, your engine code for a DX is D15B2. I was also wondering, couldnt you just tap it while it is on the car, my friend works at a tire shop, and when we were changing my oil there he striped the hole, so he just got a little bit of a bigger bolt with a washer and screwed it up in there, and it has worked just fine

[91CRXHF]

ya but wouldnt shavings from the metal get in the pan and thus in the oil i mean i know thats what an oil filter is for an all but...i think it would be best to take it out IMO

[itechengineers]

hey, with a little patience you can get the flywheel cover off with in 30 secs without pulling the motor or axels out.

let's say your laying under your car, you look up at the motor and your head is under the oil pan/trannie; to the left is the exhasut side of the motor and to the right is the intake side.

unbolt the flywheel cover completely, with a little patience and ease hold the flywheel cover by the exhaust side and bring it down to you then all the way over to the right toward the intake side. your trying to flip it upside down. and then you can and should be able to pull it off (maybe with a little pressure). installation is the reverse of removal after you put the oil pan back up.

the part of the flywheel cover thats at the trannie side is like an upside down U that sits on the trannie = which is why im trying to explain that after you move the cover toward the intake of the motor (in hopes of flipping that U rightside up) you can pull it out.

I hope i wasnt to confusing and after 2 or 4 times of removing and reinstalling it becomes a piece of cake.
on my 87 rex (d15a2), my 89 4dr civic (d15b2), my friends 92 4dr civic (d16z6/Y8) and my other friends 2000 2dr civic (d16Y8), thats how we got the cover off.

[itechengineers]

oh hey another thing, while your oil pan is off clean it thoroughly; you'll be surprised of hold slugEEEEEE it can get. someone i know went nuts also trying to clean the inside of his block .

[Louse76]

Thanks a lot for the info guys! You have so far had the most informative replies (and I posted on a few forums). I actually found someone selling me another oil pan for $30 shipped... that saves me the hassle of trying to get the old one fixed, and also I can put the new one on instantly after taking the old one off ! So I'm going to wait a couple of days until I recieve it, then get under the car and follow your instructions to remove the piece.

Also, a very important question... how many bolts total are there holding the flywheel cover on? I only took off the two visible ones from the bottom, are there more?! I have one tech book for the CRX but it is old and HORRIBLE! What a waste of paper!!

Thanks again!!

[Louse76]

Originally Posted by KoRnSaQ

I was also wondering, couldnt you just tap it while it is on the car, my friend works at a tire shop, and when we were changing my oil there he striped the hole, so he just got a little bit of a bigger bolt with a washer and screwed it up in there, and it has worked just fine

If I could do it over again, I probably would have done it this way... at this point I'm just too far along. It really shouldn't have been this much trouble!!