Causes of Oil Pan Damage

• Rocks and other debris thrown up from the road can damage a vehicle's oil pan. Driving over a curb or a parking barrier, encountering a deep pothole, or driving into a ditch can also result in damage.
  
  

Types of Damage

• Usually, oil pans are merely dented and dinged up. A look at most oil pans would likely reveal a few dents, cosmetic damage only---unless they are so big as to cause interference with other parts. If damage is bad enough to create a hole, you must repair or replace the oil pan before driving the vehicle.
  
  

Repairing the Oil Pan

• In order to replace or repair the oil pan, you must remove it. This involves draining the oil, lifting the vehicle with a floor jack and then removing the bolts that hold the oil pan in place. The exact procedure depends on the make and model.
  
  

Worn Drain Plug

• A common experience with automobiles old enough to have undergone many oil changes is an oil leak that results from worn-out threads on the drain plug. Replacement plugs and gaskets for most vehicles' oil pans are priced at only a few dollars and are available at retail auto parts stores.