Greetings all, it's been a long while since I've been by.

Question: Is there any hope of being able to take off the oil pan on a '99, 3.8, without lifting the engine. I have a flexible ratchet extension that can fish through that tight space and reach at least some of those hard to reach bolts toward the rear of the pan. So, if I can get those bolts loose, is there clearance to pull the pan off and put it back on? I've got an oil pressure issue and I think the screen may be clogged.

Thanks.

 

Clogged with what, has somebody been pouring sand into the crankcase? For what you'll likely spend on a gasket set, you can get yourself one of these. Not to mention all the hours of wasted time you could save yourself: USB Video Inspection 6 LED Borescope Endoscope 7mm Waterproof Camera Snake Scope | eBay
It's more likely you have a worn oil pump, or excessive bearing wear causing a low oil pressure issue.

 

nope gota lift the front of the motor.

 

Didn't know about that camera. Thanks for the link. Also, worn oil pump is entirely possible. Just rolled over 185K miles.

Thanks for the reply.

 

Seems to be the general consensus, but I thought I'd ask. Shops seem to want about $750 just to change the gasket. Don't have that kind of money.

 

parts store may have one to rent. i found a 1 ton for 170 bucks on sale a few years ago. i think there goin for 180 now.

 

Dropping the pan in hopes of finding something wrong with the pick up screen = waste of time as far as I'm concerned. Change your oil and put in 20w50. If your oil pressure raises noticeably, you have engine bearing and/or oil pump wear (tolerances are too great). If by some wild stretch of the imagination your pick up screen was plugged, heavier viscosity oil would make your low oil pressure matters worse.