'01 / 3.0...Looks like an oil pan gasket leak. Will be replacing the gasket soon. Looks pretty straight forward and easy...which worries me...ha, ha.

Are there any surprises I should be aware of?

 

KW, did you change the gasket on your escape? I got the same problem but think it's above the oil pan gasket.

Just wondering how your event turned out?

 

Man, I have slept and drank beer since then. But, I did not change out the pan gasket. It was my daughter's high school vehicle and I honestly cannot remember what it was. I am **** retentive about leaks and I know it stopped. It seems that is was something very simple though.

Wish I could be more help. Good luck. Escapes are great vehicles. My daughter "graduated" to a 2010 Escape XLT and my middle daughter still has her '05 Escape (78,000 miles) from when she graduated high school. Raising two kids and a husband with it...LOL.

 

Just had my oil pan gasket replaced today in my '03 Escape Limited. Might have done it myself in warmer weather - but not in January. This required the removal of the exhaust in order to drop the pan - so I thought I would have the pro's tackle this one as the exhaust bolts looked pretty well rusted. The new gasket has been improved as oil pan leaks have been an issue on the 3.0L. The new gaskets are re-inforced with copper. I hope this takes care of the oil spot in my garage! Chilton manual has a pretty detailed description of the oil pan removal. All in all a pretty expensive oil change!

Good luck!

 

I replaced my pan gasket over the Summer, it's not too hard, removing the exhaust is the biggest pain.....Well putting it back on and not breaking a bolt (which I did) is the biggest pain. If you do it make sure you get new nuts for the exhaust bolts.

This did cure the oil pan leak, which of course leaked onto the exhaust, why do all oil pan leaks head right to the exhaust ;o) Interesting it was leaking right where the front main seal is, so from causal glance it looked like a main seal leak, not a oil pan gasket leak. I wonder how many main seals have been replaced when it was just the oil pan gasket?

 

I replaced the oil pan gasket and it didn't fix the leak. I was sure that it was leaking from where a seam in the block met the pan (sort of a three way junction) at the front right corner. However, it seems like the leak is farther up on the block. So, now I just let it leak...about 1 quart in a 5k change.

 

scottss80, How did you remove the broken bolt? I broke a couple of these nonferrous bolts (stainless maybe). They appeared pressed but I could not punch them out and the drill bits just travel to the side. Center punch does not seem to dimple them either. Removing the manifolds looks like I would have to pull the engine and tranny out. That would be a terrible way to go.

Any help from anybody....much appreciated.


After 3 days without comment and failing at my attempts to drill out the stainless bolts, I elected to take it to the local Midas shop. They have better tools than I and were able to extract all 6 stainless bolt from the manifolds and cat flanges at my request. 3.5 hours labor parts. Bargain at twice the price. I seldom need help doing things, but Midas is where I go next. I inspected their work and it is the way I would have done it had I the correct tools.

By the way the pan gasket was a breeze.