What I thought was going to be a 10 minute job has turned into quite the fiasco... I thought I had 1 small spot of rust on my oil pan near the drain plug. No wire brush, grinder, or wire wheel for a drill so out came the 80 grit sandpaper. Got that spot taken care of, crawled out to grab my can o' paint and crawled back in from the front so I could get a good angle on the part of the pan I sanded. WTF... more rust? This time on the very front of the pan. I start sanding again and the spot grew as I sanded because the rust was spreading under the paint. Then I looked through the hole in the cross member and what do you know... more rust. This was the worst spot, as I sanded more and more paint just started flaking off revealing more rust.
So my 10 minute project is still not done. I'm going to have to sand it some more tomorrow, then try to get it painted before my road trip on Wednesday. At least I got the big nut on the dipstick tightened up and the oil in tonight


Front part of oil pan


Section visible through the cross member


Rear part of pan

I think it's a good thing I noticed this when I did...

 

Yeah, that looks rough but I believe you caught it in time. Make sure you do it right.

 

just in time by the looks...keep up the good work...

 

Damn, I really should look at mine. Hoping that all the grime and oil will protect it from the rust...

 

I know I need to do mine also. I just noticed my rear dif is leaking a little. What is it with the metal they use on these, they just cann't hold up to the eliments.

 

Good luck Chase. I'm glad you saw it when you did.

 

Thats tough, sure makes me happy I bought a Texas (Dallas) truck. Paint still looks new on my pan.

 

Just rub it in why don't ya!
Chris- as you can tell the problem areas on my pan are at the edges and places where rocks are likely to bounce off the pan. The trouble is getting yourself twisted around in a way that you can reach the pan around the axle, linkage, etc and be able to sand without the dust falling in your face. I wish I had or could find a small wire brush, I think it would make the job a million times easier.
I've only got tonight to finish this up, so I'm going to clean it up as best I can and hit it with some hi temp stove paint. I'll try to come back not too long from now and give it the POR-15 treatment.

 

Yeah, I just got the POR 15 super starter kit last Wednesday. Mine looks worse than that and I have not yet wire brushed and/or sanded it. There are at least 3 big bubbles on mine. The problem is, the POR 15 bsays that the more humid it is, the faster it sets up. They say try not to use it in a very humid environment as it will cure too fast. It has been crazy humid pretty much the whole past week except for Sunday and I was too lazy to do it then. I do have a small wire brush and a Face sheild so when I do get to it, I shouldn't have too much rust and paint chips in my eyes. The problem is, also you have to wait like 20-30 minutes for the degreaser and the metal prep stages. ANd there is a wash down cycle and geez, it gets time consuming and you can't really do anything else...I know I am making excuses.

 

Haul a 6 pack under there with you and some tools... when the wife or kids come out hide the beer and when they ask what's taking so long just say "well I gotta tighten this spring shackle up, put another zip-ty on the CCV hose there so it doesn't have a low spot, then I need to check the U-joints..." you'll be fine

 

Thats a good plan..now if the freakin weather would co-operate!!

 

IS that POR 15 super starter kit better then just high temp stove paint? Since I should do my rear dif cover I could do the oil pan as well. And it does look like a dirty job.

 

my truck was from VA. and the pan looks good..when i first came to FTE i heard about the pan rust..since then every time i change the oil..i set a rag on the floor....after dumping in the oil i set the oil jug up side down on the rag so oil will drain onto the rag...i then wipe off the dirt from the pan...and wipe the pan with new oil...i havent seen any rust yet after 3 years...i think if i keep it up ill be ok....

 

Guess I am going to have to start oiling my oil pan.

 

HAHA, oiling the oil pan. My oil pan has been getting oiled for over a year now since the dipstick tube flange o-ring is not seated correctly. That is the only part of the pan that has no rust is where is was oiled, the rest is just a mess. Good job catching it early, the work of fixing the rust is worth the price of the oil pan alone!