emullick

Does it really cost about $1,000 to replace the pan gasket? What is the problem? I have a "nuisance leak", and am about to drop the pan by removing a few bolts. What will I be getting into?

Gearhead Jim

IIRC, you must drop the front suspension, then do the pan/gasket, then reinstall the suspension, then do a front end alignment. Not sure what a "fair' price would be, but it's a significant project.

We had a slight seep from ours at about 30k miles, dealer re-torqued the pan bolts and it's still good at 70k.

emullick

Checked the shop manual; the pan is two piece, the bottom, (oil pan lower) is flat and attaches at the bottom, i.e. seals oil all the time. My leak is at this joint, not at the top. So the whole pan does not have to come off, just the lower flat plate with 15 bolts.
My car is about to go into winter hibernation; this will be a spring project.

Gearhead Jim

Good news.
Please do a write up when you finish the project.