[Shop-talk] Drilling a hole in aluminum oil pan

[Bob Spidell]

"... not to be an idiot with my $8000 engine and just pull the pan"

I think you answered your own question; you'll sleep better at night.


On 10/3/2020 8:56 AM, Miq Millman wrote:
> Here's what I want to do:
>
> Drill a 23/32' hole in the side of the oil pan for the (1/2 NPT-AN10 
> steel braided line that allows the oil from the turbo back into the 
> block.  I have the NPT tap ready.
>
> Here are the complications:
>
> 1) pan is bolted and sealed to the block -- I would rather not remove it
> 2) oil pan is aluminum not steel
> 3) there is already a threaded hole for 3/8 NPT
> 4) engine is newly built long block, with most of the ancillaries 
> still to be attached, on an engine stand.
> 5) there is an additional hole on the opposite side of the pan for an 
> oil temp sensor
>
> Here is what I am thinking:
>
> 1) coat the drill bit in some red grease to collect aluminum shavings
> 2) seal off water and vacuum passages with tape
> 3) set air compressor to something very low, like 20 psi, and thread 
> into the oil sensor hole (1/8 NPT)
> 4) fabricobble up a reduced hose to the shop vac line and point that 
> at the drilling point
> 5) drill in short bursts, possibly cleaning the bit and grease each 
> time, and reapplying grease
> 6) after I tap the hole (also a challenge due to the length of the tap 
> and the baffle inside the pan) dump 5-6 quarts of the cheapest 10 w 
> oil at the FLAPS and kind of "slosh" it around by slightly rotating 
> the engine on the stand, drain and repeat again
> 7) check second pot of drained oil for metal shavings, if found try 
> gas or diesel followed by 3rd round of cheap oil flush
>
> Open to options and opinions.  Including telling me not to be an idiot 
> with my $8000 engine and just pull the pan.
>
>