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

[Ronnie Day]

IMO, the risks definitely aren't worth the time save! Do it the smart, safe
way, pull the pan!

On Sat, Oct 3, 2020 at 11:21 AM Donald H Locker <dhlocker at comcast.net>
wrote:

> I agree with what Bob said.
>
> Engine's on a stand, so it is accessible. And it sounds like the
> alternative you've conceived is far more complex than dropping the pan.
> Ask yourself what you'd do if you were the machine shop you trusted with
> that sweet lump.
>
> Donald.
>
> *Plain Text* email -- it's an accessibility issue
> () no proprietary attachments; no html mail
> /\ <https://www.georgedillon.com/web/html_email_is_evil.shtml>
>
> On 2020-10-03 11:56 a.m., 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.
> >
> > --
> > __
> > Miq Millman   miq at bigllama.com <mailto:miq at bigllama.com>
> > Tualatin, OR  Big Llama Productions
> >
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