in 12 hours I will be trying to take my old oil pan out of my 1996 Dodge Ram 2500 cummins 4X4. I was told that I need to lift the engine a little bit to get the oil pan out. Does anyone have any idea on how to help me or know of any sites that would show diagrams and pictures. Those would help me very much sorry for spelling and thank you for your time.

 

You can do a search on this site under oil pan and get a lot of info. You have to jack up the eng to get the pan off. I think you have to remove the oil sump tube and drop it inside the pan too. You should remove the fan shroud to give the fan room to go up. Sometimes you need a little more clearance to get the pan out, and by loosening up the cab mounts and jacking it up an inch you will gain more room for pan removal. Good luck

 

My oil pan may also be starting to leak a little, I think. Can I just tighten the bolts a little? If so, how many ft lbs per bolt. Also someone had mentioned a vacum pump leak may also cause oil so show up back there. Where is this pump loacated.

Cjthor,
01, ext cab long box, HO, 4x4 6spd.

 

Do yourself a favor and take the fan off first.

 

It's located on the left side of the engine below the injector pump. It attaches to the rear of the timing case and has the power steering pump attached to the back of it. If the seal is leaking you will see oil at the coupler adapter between the vaccum pump and the power steering pump. Easier to see the leak from underneath the truck.

You might find this helpful in locating the parts.

click here

You can see the cap for the power steering in the picture although it's not marked in the drawing.
The book I have says the oil pan bolts should be 18ft-lbs.

 

To pull the oil pan you need to raise the engine about four inches. At that point the pan will clear the pickup and the transmission adaptor and slide out. If there is not enough room to raise the engine, you take the last two valve covers off and if necessary the last two rocker arm assemblies. You don't have to mess with the cab. You can usually get it high enough with just the valve cover removal.

To pull the engine you have to do the same thing because the pan has to come off to remove it without pulling the tans and adaptor plate.

Its no a biggie, just take the fan off, loosen the bolts in the mounts enough to clear the mount flanges and watch as you go up and disconnect whatever is in the way. Better take the cooler tubes loose to do it to avoid bending anything. Generally the exhaust is ok in place, I never had a problem with it.

PUtting it back in, there is a TSB on using sealer on the pan rails for about the back third of the engine and in the front corners where the timing box bolts on. It is a simple job, but a pain. It is also easier to pull the hood and use a winch on the front lift ring instead of trying to jack it up.

 

Does anyone know if you have to disconect the fuel lines? If i dont have to I would rather not because I dont want to bleed out the air later on. I am only going to lift the engine about 4 inchs so that I can slide the oil pan out.