Change Chevy 4.3 liter oil pan gasket?

Answer 1

The model/year I did was a 02 Silverado 2wd auto trans. Raise the vehicle on either drive up ramps or a jack w/ stands on both sides of vehicle. Drain the oil and remove the filter; re install drain plug with new gasket. Remove 2 brackets that come across/under trans/oil pan area (or just loosen the forward ones and slide the brackets to the side. Center of oil pan there is a bigger bracket stemming across directly under the oil pan. 3 bolts each side, 2 running front to back and 1 you can see in a cut out/notch of the bracket (smaller head 16mm) pointing upward. Remove negative battery cable end from battery. Remove starter. Remove starter/trans shield-2-8mm bolts. Remove black plugs on lower part of transmission, they hide 2 bolts. Manual trans probably does not have that, should just be several bolts at base of trans running into the oil pan. Automatic trans had 2 bolts running through transmission into oil pan. Front of engine has 3 10mm bolts holding wire harness to engine, blocking oil pan bolts (maybe use a bungee cord to tie the harness away from pan area to make access easier and reassembly easier. Remove the 2 bolts running through trans, then remove the oil pan bolts (had 12 in all). Clean all mating surfaces good (brake cleaner solvent and rag and wire brush). At crankshaft ends make sure all rtv is clear and cleaned away. Squeeze from tube onto crankshaft ends (only where the old rtv was) about 1/4 to 1/2 bead to ensure better sealing. Let set for about 5 minutes or more- no more than 10 minutes depending on temperature outside (curing time). Reinstall oil pan and install couple bolts into front and rear of pan, don't lock down bolts yet. Must install trans bolts first to ensure straightness/alignment of pan and starter/trans shield while it's not torqued down yet. Now ok to install all other bolts and torque bolts from center forward then to rear using criss cross pattern (about 28 ft lbs of torque is adequate or just use good judgment not to strip threads). Thereafter installation is the reverse of removal. Don't forget the battery connection and the oil --Roughly 2.5 to 3 hours HAVE FUN!