All-

08 sedan. In the process of installing oil pan spacer. Can't drop the pan. Yes all the bolts are out FSM calls for an seal cutter tool, can't find a parts store that has one or loans one (or has heard of one). Whacked for quite a while with the sharpest flat-head screwdriver I had, as well as the end of a pry bar, even a sharpened stone chisel, no luck. Hit it hard, but didn't give it everything I had... found one other thread where people cut out the exposed pieces of gasket and went in there with a pry bar/scraper/etc., but at this point I'm really starting to tear up the mating area, any ideas folks?

Thanks!

 

Hammer in a razor blade between the two surfaces to cut the seal.

 

It's not just you I had a heck of time getting mine off, it's really hard when your laying on your back. I would get a razor blade between the two surfaces and try to cut the all around the pan and then try to pry it off. Good luck

 

Thanks guys- will give it a shot

 

Wow- thank you very much for that tip- got it off in about 5 minutes!

One of the bolts was tough to get out as there wasn't a lot of clearance between it and a piece of the frame, and between the spacer and the longer bolt, there was no way I was getting that puppy in, so I'm short 1 bolt... between that and the slip-sliding back and forth I did trying to get the pieces lined up (you could definitely call the sealant as "spread out", but it gets like that anyway once everything's tightened is my argument!), I'm going to give it a few hours to cure before I even put oil back in 'er.

Will tell you in the morning if I'm spraying oil all over LBJ

 

Slow drip, was losing about half a quart every 18 hours. Just got in there and found that the drip was from the empty bolt hole- better than having to re-do the whole thing- plugged it up with Super Black and will let it dry for a few hours.

 

I would really try to get that bolt back in, congrats on getting the old one off.

 

Yeah, decided not to unbolt the entire frame/support, was actually close to cutting off the one piece of it that was it the way (all it had was a bolt hole for attaching the under cover), then I was just going to goop up the original shorter bolt (wouldn't actually screw in) with the gasket sealant and jam it in and hold in place until it dried, but the hole was already full of sealant so it wouldn't too far in, so THEN I just ended up shooting as much sealant up there as I could, let it set for 5 hours until I refilled with oil, will check for leaks in the morning.