Help...Stripped oil pan

[buzzybee]

So was doing an oil change today and had a dreadful moment when loosening the oil pan bolt on the rear sump.
So yup my oil pan is stripped. Turned out to be a positive since this is pretty much forcing me to get my rod bearings taken care of as well.

Planning to take it to MRF on wednesday but need some help on what to do until then. My car is currently on my quickjack with no oil and Im planning on towing it to MRF. Should I fill the car up w fresh oil? So that I can still move my car to the driveway and freely put it in neutral for the tow.

[roastbeef]

wait until the tow truck comes, then put it in neutral and roll it.

[buzzybee]

Originally Posted by roastbeef

wait until the tow truck comes, then put it in neutral and roll it.

forgot to mention - its DCT. Any way to out DCT in neutral without starting the car?

[Drv4fun]

See the manual!

[Davisca455]

[buzzybee]

Originally Posted by Davisca455

thanks! is this something I can just leave or will i have to go w the tow truck to do it again to unload the car

[Davisca455]

Originally Posted by buzzybee

thanks! is this something I can just leave or will i have to go w the tow truck to do it again to unload the car

You can leave it in neutral.
The flatbed driver will cinch the car down with straps.
When you get it to the shop, they are going to need it to be in neutral as well,
...and tape a note to the steering wheel that says
"NO OIL! DO NOT START ENGINE!!!l"

[djsilverjohnson]

Do as you will, but if it was me I'd at least put one of those "rubber expansion plugs" in it and put some oil in, just in case someone, somewhere, somehow hits the wrong button..., You can purchase oversized self-tapping drain plugs, but that would depend on whether and how you expect to repair the pan. There are also repair methods available for installing helicoils, time-serts, etc.

[buzzybee]

Originally Posted by djsilverjohnson

Do as you will, but if it was me I'd at least put one of those "rubber expansion plugs" in it and put some oil in, just in case someone, somewhere, somehow hits the wrong button..., You can purchase oversized self-tapping drain plugs, but that would depend on whether and how you expect to repair the pan. There are also repair methods available for installing helicoils, time-serts, etc.

Yup, Malek @ MRF will be installing time-serts while the pan is off the car for rod bearings. Think I might disconnect the battery to prevent any accidental starts.

[LakeSurfer]

I would put the note on the wheel and disconnect the battery. worse case the note falls off and they start the car. or just dump the old oil back in (after you filter it of course). they're only gonna drive it on and off the truck.

[anselmw]

Originally Posted by djsilverjohnson

Do as you will, but if it was me I'd at least put one of those "rubber expansion plugs" in it and put some oil in, just in case someone, somewhere, somehow hits the wrong button..., You can purchase oversized self-tapping drain plugs, but that would depend on whether and how you expect to repair the pan. There are also repair methods available for installing helicoils, time-serts, etc.

I agree I would put something in just in case someone starts it, at a minimum you could put the old drain plug in and just duct tape it temporarily. Usually with a stripped plug it still will go in and oil will drip out slowly. With the tape to hold it there, that should be enough to get you on the tow truck and safety net in case someone starts it as there will be oil in the engine.

[brettcp]

Originally Posted by Davisca455

I've had 5 E9X M3's over the years and never knew this.. Thank you!

[Mdriv3r]

Originally Posted by buzzybee

Yup, Malek @ MRF will be installing time-serts while the pan is off the car for rod bearings. Think I might disconnect the battery to prevent any accidental starts.

Time serts work awesome! Had to do it. Speaking of... I recently just got ran into and am a total loss. Will post about it in a few.

[rcracin]

I second the suggestion to disconnect battery.

Blue tape on the hood and write do not start, same on steering wheel, and tape up the start button.

[Davisca455]

Originally Posted by buzzybee

So was doing an oil change today and had a dreadful moment when loosening the oil pan bolt on the rear sump.
So yup my oil pan is stripped. Turned out to be a positive since this is pretty much forcing me to get my rod bearings taken care of as well.

Planning to take it to MRF on wednesday but need some help on what to do until then. My car is currently on my quickjack with no oil and Im planning on towing it to MRF. Should I fill the car up w fresh oil? So that I can still move my car to the driveway and freely put it in neutral for the tow.

How did everything go?
Get it on and off the tow truck ok?
And, out of morbid curiosity, how'd the old rod bearings look?

[buzzybee]

Originally Posted by Davisca455

How did everything go?
Get it on and off the tow truck ok?
And, out of morbid curiosity, how'd the old rod bearings look?

Tow truck driver ended up starting the car when they got it to MRF since he couldnt get it to neutral. Didn't want to disconnect my battery since I wanted my dashcam to be active in case something bad happened.

Luckily, MRF took good care of it providing 2 oil flushes free of charge. Malek said internals are fine and look extremely well taken care of. I'll attach a pic of my bearings

[Davisca455]

Originally Posted by buzzybee

Tow truck driver ended up starting the car when they got it to MRF since he couldnt get it to neutral. Didn't want to disconnect my battery since I wanted my dashcam to be active in case something bad happened.

Luckily, MRF took good care of it providing 2 oil flushes free of charge. Malek said internals are fine and look extremely well taken care of. I'll attach a pic of my bearings

Ok, talk me off the ledge here... the tow truck driver started it, so it had oil in it....right?

[Scharbag]

Originally Posted by Davisca455

Ok, talk me off the ledge here... the tow truck driver started it, so it had oil in it....right?

Did he start it and drive it? Or just start it to put it in N? How long did it run? Did it have oil?

It is likely fine. Engines at idle produce very minimal stresses on rotating parts. We used to do "MotorBlast" fundraisers in engineering. Drain the oil and coolant, start the pig, bring the revs to ~3000-4000RPM and start a timer. Damn things would last minutes. Whoever bet closest to the time won the 50/50.

I would still nut punch the tow truck driver just cause.

Cheers,

[buzzybee]

Originally Posted by Davisca455

Ok, talk me off the ledge here... the tow truck driver started it, so it had oil in it....right?

Nope, I left it draining for about 2-3 days until I plugged the pan and had it towed.

[buzzybee]

Originally Posted by Scharbag

Did he start it and drive it? Or just start it to put it in N? How long did it run? Did it have oil?

It is likely fine. Engines at idle produce very minimal stresses on rotating parts. We used to do "MotorBlast" fundraisers in engineering. Drain the oil and coolant, start the pig, bring the revs to ~3000-4000RPM and start a timer. Damn things would last minutes. Whoever bet closest to the time won the 50/50.

I would still nut punch the tow truck driver just cause.

Cheers,

No idea, wasnt there. I live around 2 hours away from MRF so I just stayed home. Sent Malek a couple of texts and calls letting him know the ETA but got no response. Around 10-20 min after the tow truck got there Malek texted me back telling me what happened. Apparently, tow truck got there and started unloading without letting Malek know. No idea how long it was on but Malek said he did come out and stop him before it was fully off the truck.
Was pissed but Malek did assure me everythings fine and no damage so Im over it. I did however file a claim w/ AAA and im letting that play out.

[tdott]

wow

hopefully nothing happens to the motor down the road.

[Davisca455]

Originally Posted by buzzybee

No idea, wasnt there. I live around 2 hours away from MRF so I just stayed home. Sent Malek a couple of texts and calls letting him know the ETA but got no response. Around 10-20 min after the tow truck got there Malek texted me back telling me what happened. Apparently, tow truck got there and started unloading without letting Malek know. No idea how long it was on but Malek said he did come out and stop him before it was fully off the truck.
Was pissed but Malek did assure me everythings fine and no damage so Im over it. I did however file a claim w/ AAA and im letting that play out.

Did the tow truck driver ignore the "Don't Start Engine, No Oil!" note?
Because if he did, I'm with Sharbag, that person is owed a serious...something bad.
I don't know exactly what, but something really, really painful.