OEM 2005 Dodge Dakota Oil Pan

2005 Dodge Dakota Oil Pan Parts and Q&A

• Q: How to Service and Repair an Oil Pan on 2005 Dodge Dakota?

  A: Before you begin, cut the negative battery cable and add engine support fixture special tool # 8534 under the engine, without lifting it. Release the left and right engine mount bolts down to the framework, take out the dust cover and prepare for draining the engine oil. Use tool # 8534 to raise the engine a bit so the oil pan can be taken out, checking that there is enough clearance at the fan shroud to fan and cowl to intake manifold. For 4WD cars, drop the front axle down so you have room to remove the oil pan without handling the axle shafts, break the pinion bracket, cut the front driveshaft at the front axle and remove the bolts holding the front axle to the chassis before using a jack to drop the axle. Do not touch the oil pan or gasket directly, because the gasket helps the windage tray vital to the engine. Take out the mounting bolts on the oil pan and then unbolt and remove the oil pump pickup tube. Look at the windage tray and the gasket to check if they require replacement. Dip the oil pan into solvent to clean it, then wipe it dry and do not clean the surface with sharp objects. Give the oil screen and tube a thorough clean in clean solvent and check the oil drain plug and plug hole for damaged threads, fixing any issues that arise. Then, examine if the oil pan mounting flange is bent or distorted and if it is, fix that issue. To install, ready the bedplate and oil pan, place the oil pan gasket and pickup tube with their new o-rings and then use 28 Nm (20 ft. lbs.) to tighten the mounting bolts and nuts. Set up the oil pan and mount it, tightening the bolts to 15 Nm (11 ft. lbs.) in order. With tool # 8534, slide the engine into the mounts, put both engine mount through bolts into place, tighten them at 68 Nm (50 ft. lbs.), then remove the tool and install the structural dust cover. When using a 4WD vehicle, lift the axle with a proper jack, place the axle mounting bolts, the pinion bracket and the front driveshaft at the front end. Put oil into the engine, resume the connection of the negative battery cable, start the car and keep an eye for any leaks.