'98 oil pan and trans gasket

Hello All,

I went in for an oil change a week ago and the tech said my oil pan was rusting apart, as well as my trans pan gasket was leaking. He allowed me to come under the vehicle and pointed out the defects, and suggested I get them replaced, and that it would be relatively easy considering their placement. (They wouldn't do an oil change until I got this done, so they just topped off my fluids at no charge.) I have noticed more oil leaks and trans fluid on my driveway, so I don't think the guy is BSing me. (Although, the oil pan simply looks like it has a paint finish flecking off the metal as opposed to actually rusting out.) I have found someone to replace the parts, and he said he'll charge me $350 to do it, if I go out and buy the parts.

Questions: Is $350 a fair price? Where is a good place to go for the parts? (AutoZone? Murray's? etc.) How much am I looking at paying for the oil pan and the trans gaskets?

I appreciate any and all comments.

How much is your time worth? Dropping both pans and replenishing the fluids is only a half a day's worth of work, so how much time is this guy charging you for? If he's telling you that it will take him seven hours to do it, then he's giving you a decent rate, but why not save the $350 and do it yourself?

I am what you might call an automotive illiterate, in most cases. I love trying to do as much repair work as I can, but without the proper facilities to do this one, I can't see myself replacing these parts. I have no problem having someone else do the work, as long as its done right, but I just wanted to make sure that the amount was on target, so as to not get ripped off. But, I also need to find out where is a good place to get the parts.

I am not trying to suggest that your tech is misleading you but I do want to point out the following:

If you get your transmission fluid changed (which you should do on a regular basis) then the gasket can be replaced with only the parts cost since they drop the pan to change the fluid (and filter).

If your oil is leaking through rust holes in the pan then it would be coming out quite quickly (I should think). If it is leaking out of the oil pan gasket then the gasket needs to be replaced which is the same amount of labour as replacing the pan. I have seen a lot of oil pans with surface rust (which does not require changing the pan) You may want to crawl under your car and check again.

Just my 2 cents

Ugh. My nature has been transformed into an untrusting one, as of late, due to being duped a few times. So now, I am confused.

I'm going to agree with what the others have said and wish to encourage (confuse??) you further. I think you should decide on which ONE job you want to do first...I would chose the tranny if the engine oil can wait a little longer.
Buy a Haynes manual for reference.
My '99 tranny came with a reuseable gasket. If someone has changed your gasket to a cork-type, I would anti up the bucks for the reuseable one from Ford. You need to drop the tranny pan periodically, anyway, to wipe it out. Wipe off the round magnets. Replace the filter (watch the seal). Replace the fluid with the proper type...Mercon or MerconV??? ...it should be noted on the dipstick or in your glovebox manual. You will probably replace about 6 1/3 qts. Its a messy job. Use a torque wrench for the screws.

When you finish this one ... change your engine oil and filter. Forget about changing the engine oil pan unless its a huge leak.

I would get under the van and check the oil pan with a sharp object to kind of pick at it to see if there is any evidence of heavy rust scale, particularly in the areas of the corners of the oil pan. I had a '92 Merc sable and it had a rotted through oil pan. This type of leak isn't fast, it is slow but is noticeable on the driveway and the rusty areas of the oil pan will be oil soaked. Like all oil leaks it will be more noticable when the engine is hot as oil thins when it is warm and thickens when it is cold.

On the Tranny gasket, I agree with the fella that wrote that it can be replaced when the tranny fluid is replaced. The tranny pan has to come down for a fluid change anyway.

if the pan is rusty/coroded-- all that stuff gets in the oil. No good!
and if you let the pan rust away it may be harder to take out later
and rust spreads like a diesease a rusty pan will make everything rust faster. The pans in these things are garbage