Subaru shortened oil pan advice

[physast]

Just got back from a 800 mile trip in the van. No issues that I could tell at all during the trip. I was averaging 19.4 mpg going about 70 mph down the highway.

The day after we returned I went down to the van to get some stuff out that we were to lazy to get the night before and...

My van had messed it's self! I find a huge puddle of oil under the van. After close inspection I see that the oil pan is leaking from what appears to be a weld point. I need a new oil pan.

It looks like my choices are smallcar, RMW, and burley. My first choice is smallcar, but they are currently out of stock which is why I am entertaining other options.

My question is does anyone have a preference for one over the other and why?

smallcar: I like the fins and the cast aluminum.
RMW: I like the oil dip stick placement (not sure this will fit with the small car engine mount)
burley: don't know enough about it to like or dislike anything about it
_________________
1967 L633 VW beetle (currently being restored...slowly)
1991 Orly Blue Vanaru 2.5L

[dobryan]

Why did the weld point break and can you remove the pan and get it welded back to good?
_________________
Dave O
'87 Westy w/ 2002 Subaru EJ25 and Peloquin TBD

"To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive." Robert Louis Stevenson

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https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=746794

[pbrown]

Here is another option.

http://www.outfrontmotorsports.com/oil_pan.htm

I've read good things but don't know much about them.

You can probably have your existing pan repaired.
_________________
Patrick Brown

1986 Westy Syncro EJ25
Flickr --> https://flic.kr/s/aHsmQNUXEF

[physast]

[dobryan]

If that is a steel pan that should be able to be repaired.
_________________
Dave O
'87 Westy w/ 2002 Subaru EJ25 and Peloquin TBD

"To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive." Robert Louis Stevenson

MD>Canada>AK>WA>OR>CA>AZ>UT>WY>SD
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=620646

Building a bus for travel in Europe (euroBus)
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=695371

The Western Syncro build
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=746794

[0cean]

Burley has mighty fine products. Cant go wrong with him.
_________________
I'm not a mechanic, I just play one on the internet

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(Number of completely different vehicles parts used: 3)

[syncrodoka]

If you can't get yours fixed then the Burley oil pan gets my vote. The oil dipstick is accessible through the license plate flap so you can check fluids without unpacking.
The RMW version looks wonky to me like the oil could slosh away from the pickup tube.

[Jake de Villiers]

[Howesight]

That weld can be fixed easily. Clean the pan very thoroughly after the welding and paint the interior (double coat at the weld areas) with Glyptal paint. Racing engine builders have used Glyptal for decades with no problems. I repaired my SmallCar cast aluminum pan (after welding) using Glyptal - - no leaks.

BTW, I like my SmallCar cast aluminum pan since it allows me to lift the engine using the oil pan for any servicing that requires supporting the engine. It also survived my son's rock-crawling antics, albeit with a slow leak.

Have a look here:

http://www.eastwood.com/glyptal-red-brush-on-1-qt.html
_________________
'86 Syncro Westy SVX

[Terry Kay]

Have the pan rewelded.
Somebody ground too much off, or got off the beaten path with the welder.
Looks like both--

Get it off and get it welded up again by a welding shop.
It isn't no big deal.

Fir the price of replacing the pan with new you probably can have 5-6 pans welded.
_________________
T.K.

[physast]

Im going to see if I can find someone that can weld the pan. This option would save money.

The reason I thought about 'upgrading' is for the extra cooling in the small car pan.

I also like the RMW design that puts the dipstick at the license plate.

I guess I could get the smallcar dipstick tube and it would still be at the license plate.
_________________
1967 L633 VW beetle (currently being restored...slowly)
1991 Orly Blue Vanaru 2.5L

[Howesight]

Hey Physast:

Although I like my Smallcar cast aluminum oil pan, I am confident that any cooling of my oil by that pan is insignificant.

It is very easy to use large diameter brake line (from your FLAPS) to extend the factory Subaru dipstick "sheath" to the licence plate door. For the dipstick itself, get another Subie dipstick from the wrecker and weld on the needed extension.

By the way, the SmallCar dipstick extension can be used with a stock Subie oil pan - - you don't need the SmallCar oil pan to install it.
_________________
'86 Syncro Westy SVX

[Rocky Mountain Westy]

[61Scout]

Weld it up. Heck, I wouldn't even remove the pan (unless it's leaking elsewhere) since the plug is right there. I'd simply drain the oil, then tip the whole van so the remaining oil tips away from the plug. Then reach in there with a rag (not a paper towel) and dry it out. Clean the outside down to bare metal and patch that puppy right up with a bead or two. I'm thinking it's a 30-60 minute repair from start to finish.

-Kevin
_________________
1986 Westfalia Weekender Wolfsburg, RJE 2.3
1985 Tin Top, Subie 2.2 + 5MT
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-Nec Spe, Nec Metu

[physast]

Good to know the RMW pan will not fit a smallcar mounted Subaru engine.

I am thinking that I will go with the smallcar alum pan if I decide not to try and fix the current pan.
_________________
1967 L633 VW beetle (currently being restored...slowly)
1991 Orly Blue Vanaru 2.5L

[physast]

[Terry Kay]

He can drain that pan till the cows come home, clean it as well as he can, the heat from the welding will, like a magnet ,draw oil from the rest of the pan--miniscule amounts right to that weld.
It's called wicking, and does happen.

Then it'll continue to leak some more after you think you're all done.

Drop the pan, toss it into a solvent tank, let it soak, wash it out with dawn & hot water, rinse ,let dry, and weld it up on a welding bench.

Then it won't leak.
_________________
T.K.

[physast]

Anything else I could do while the pan is off? Are there any seals that can easily be replaced on the Subaru engine with the pan off?
_________________
1967 L633 VW beetle (currently being restored...slowly)
1991 Orly Blue Vanaru 2.5L

[Wildthings]

Looks like it was brazed to me and not welded. Still can probably be fixed.

[Terry Kay]

Good call.
Nothing wrong with brazing as long as it's done right--and the pan is squeaky clean inside & out.

I would suspect it's leaking for the same reason a weld would if the pan wasn't cleaned up good--


Now prior to welding it up--the brass has to be all gone.
Totally.
Finito.
Arriva Derchi--or the weld will be junk.
_________________
T.K.