I recently took my car to an oil change place thinking it would be quicker for them to do it than myself. They told me last time the plug hole was stripped on the pan. OK no big deal. They installed a "pan saver" which basically worked like a drywall anchor and that sealed the plug hole. Now they tell me that they cant do another oil change cause removing that pan saver will let lose the anchor inside the pan.
2 Things- I dont mind paying to get a new pan, I am just unsure if I have an oil level sensor or not. Price is the same for either option.
Or figuring out how to get that anchor out without dropping the pan or if I should just loosen it up a little bit before the anchor comes lose.
Any suggestions would be nice.
1998 Cavalier 2dr 5 spd 2200 138K miles
I'd just get a new oil pan, then you won't have to worry it again.
Know a way of figuring out if I have an oil level sensor before dropping it?
1998 Cavalier 2dr 5 spd 2200 138K miles
On my Sunfire 2.4, the sensor is at the rear of the pan w/electric connector. Good luck, Dave
Well I have a 96 2.2, and the sensor is on the front of the pan, you having a 2200 its basicly the same engine, all you got to do is look at the pan, you'll know when you see it
I would double check what they told you first.
The bolts are designed to strip before the pan will.
Most of the time you can just make new threads and oversize the pan bolt hole
- 2004 Cavalier - 124k, owned since new
or if it is the bolt just go get a new bolt. i know the bolt on my integra stripped and i took it to autozone and they had one there. cost me like 5 bucks
Well from what they have told me the pan itself is stripped cause they tried another bolt plus the next size up and they didnt caught the threads. This is what I get for ttrying to save myself time and letting someone else do it. I will try and verify that it is indeed the pan this weekend. I am still thinking that if i just loosen it a little bit to get the oil out then i shouldnt have any mishaps of losing the toggle into the pan. Thanks for the suggestions.
1998 Cavalier 2dr 5 spd 2200 138K miles
to be sure of the sensor, call your dealer with your vin, they will tell you. Secondly, id replace the pan just to be sure of what you have and not have to worry about it
Per a local Chevy Dealer, the 1998 2.2L does not have the oil level sensor, but the 2.4 does. Just an FYI for anyone reading this later on.
1998 Cavalier 2dr 5 spd 2200 138K miles
Just a follow up, it took about 3 hours to remove everything before I could even get access to all the bolts on the pan. Then another hour trying to break the gasket loose. My engine thanks me. I also found the filler neck gasket was ripped and leaking oil down the front of my engine. The entire botton was covered with thick oil/grease. On a more serious side, double check the torque rating. I mixed ft/lbs for in/lbs and twisted the head off one of the bolts. I have a bolt extractor on order. Hopefully that gets it out. Anyone know the size bolt or thread pattern to replace it once I get it out? Think I could drive on it while it is missing that bolt? I am leary that the gasket might start leaking. Right now the only leak I have is from the salvage oil pan's drain plug. Ill just keep the fluids up till next oil change and swap the plug. maybe add an o-ring. The pan came off a 99 cavalier and I never thought about checking that drain plug OK so if anyone has suggestions about that broken bolt, let me know. I was freaking out but I am over it now. Just more work to be done.
1998 Cavalier 2dr 5 spd 2200 138K miles
