How to remove Oil Pan on 2005 Ford explorer?

Removal & Installation

4.0L Engine
OHV Engine (VIN X)

NOTE

Review the complete service procedure before starting this repair.

1. Before servicing the vehicle, refer to the Precautions section.
2. Drain the engine oil.
3. Remove or disconnect the following:
   
   
   Negative battery cable

   Engine from the vehicle and mount the engine on a suitable engine stand with the oil pan facing up

   Oil pan attaching bolts (note location of 2 spacers) and remove the pan from the engine block

   Oil pan gasket and crankshaft rear main bearing cap wedge seal
4. Clean all gasket surfaces on the engine and oil pan. Remove all traces of old gasket and/or sealer.

To install:

1. Install or connect the following:
   
   
   New crankshaft rear main bearing cap wedge seal. The seal should fit snugly into the sides of the rear main bearing cap
   
   

   

   

   Fig. The correct spacer must be used to extend the mounting surface of the oil pan so it is flush with the mounting surface of the engine block-4.0L OHV engine

   New oil pan gasket to the engine block and place the oil pan in correct position on the 4 locating studs. Torque the bolts EVENLY to 60-84 inch lbs. (7-10 Nm).

   Transmission bolts to the engine and oil pan. There are 2 spacers on the rear of the oil pan to allow proper mating of the transmission and oil pan.

   Spacers to the mounting pads on the rear of the oil pan before bolting the engine and transmission together

   Engine to the vehicle

   Negative battery cable
2. Fill the engine with clean oil.
   
   
   Start the vehicle and check for leaks, repair if necessary.

SOHC Engine (VIN E)

Fig. Oil pan, pump and related parts-4.0L SOHC engine

NOTE

The 4.0L SOHC engine does not use an oil pan in the conventional sense. There is a separate access panel that unbolts from what would be considered the oil pan (which is now known as the ladder frame).

1. Before servicing the vehicle, please familiarize yourself with safety procedures.
2. Drain the engine oil.
3. Remove or disconnect the following:
   
   
   Negative battery cable

   Oil pan and discard the gasket

To install:

1. Install or connect the following:
   
   
   New gasket and oil pan. Torque the bolts to 80 inch lbs. (9 Nm).

   Negative battery cable
2. Fill the engine with clean oil.
3. Start the vehicle and check for leaks, repair if necessary.

VIN E SOHC Engine

1. Before servicing the vehicle, refer to the -Precautions- section.
2. Raise the vehicle on a hoist.
3. Drain the engine oil.
4. Remove the oil pan bolts, oil pan and discard the gasket

To install:

1. Clean the pan and block mating surfaces.
2. Install a new gasket.
3. Position the oil pan. Torque the bolts, in an alternating pattern, to 80 inch lbs. (9 Nm).
4. Torque the pan drain bolt to 19 ft. lbs. (26 Nm).
5. Fill the engine with clean oil.
6. Start the vehicle and check for leaks, repair if necessary.

4.6L Engine
VIN H DOHC Engine

Fig. Oil pan, pump and related parts-4.6L DOHC engine

1. Before servicing the vehicle, please familiarize yourself with safety procedures.
2. With the vehicle in NEUTRAL position on a hoist.
3. Drain the engine oil.
4. Remove the front stabilizer bar.
   
   NOTE

   Carry out this step only if the oil pump is being removed.
5. Remove the engine front cover.
6. Remove the front axle bolts.
   
   WARNING

   Do not allow the inner halfshaft boots to contact the lower control arms. Damage to the boots can occur.
7. Support the front axle using an appropriate jack. Lower the front axle approximately 6 inches.
8. Remove the crossmember bolts.
9. Remove the crossmember.
10. Remove the inspection cover.
11. Remove the oil pan bolts
12. Oil pan.
13. Remove the oil pan gasket.

To install:

1. Installation is the reverse of the removal procedure.
   
   WARNING

   Do not use metal scrapers, wire brushes, power abrasive discs, or other abrasive means to clean the sealing surfaces. These can cause scratches and gouges resulting in leak paths. Use a plastic scraper to clean the sealing surfaces.
2. Clean the sealing surfaces with metal surface cleaner.
   
   NOTE

   If the oil pan and gasket are not secured within four minutes of sealer application, the sealant must be removed and the sealing surfaces cleaned with metal surface cleaner.
3. Apply silicone gasket and sealant in two places.
   
   NOTE

   If the oil pan and gasket are not secured within four minutes of sealer application, the sealant must be removed and the sealing surfaces cleaned with metal surface cleaner.
4. Apply silicone gasket and sealant in two places.
5. Tighten the bolts in the sequence shown in three stages:
   
   
   Stage 1: Tighten to 18 inch lbs. (2 Nm).

   Stage 2: Tighten to 15 ft. lbs. (20 Nm).

   Stage 3: Tighten an additional 60 degrees.

1. Before servicing the vehicle, refer to the -Precautions- section.
2. Drain the engine oil.
3. Remove or disconnect the following:
   
   NOTE

   Do not use metal scrapers, wire brushes, power abrasive discs, or other abrasive means to clean the sealing surfaces. These may cause scratches and gouges resulting in leak paths. Use a plastic scraper to clean the sealing surfaces.
   
   
   
   
   Front stabilizer bar

   Front axle (on 4WD, support the axle with a jack and lower the axle slightly to access the pan)

   Front crossmember

   Inspection cover (2 bolts)

   Oil pan (16 bolts)

To install:

NOTE

If the oil pan and gasket are not secured within four minutes of sealer application, the sealant must be removed and the sealing surfaces cleaned with metal surface cleaner.

1. Apply silicone gasket and sealant in the front and rear corners of the pan-to-block mating surface.
2. Position the new oil pan gasket and the oil pan and loosely install the bolts.
3. Tighten the bolts in 3 stages, in the sequence shown, once for each step.
   
   
   Step 1: Tighten to 18 inch lbs. (2 Nm)

   Step 2: Tighten to 15 ft. lbs. (20 Nm)

   Step 3: Tighten an additional 60 degrees.
   
   

   

   

   Fig. Oil pan bolt tightening sequence-4.6L engine
4. Install the following:
   
   
   Inspection cover

   Front crossmember; torque the through-bolts to 59 ft. lbs. (80 Nm)

   Front axle; torque the axle insulator bolts to 74 ft. lbs. (100 Nm)

   Front stabilizer bar; torque the end nuts to 66 ft. lbs. (90 Nm)

VIN W SOHC Engine

1. Before servicing the vehicle, please familiarize yourself with safety procedures.
2. Drain the engine oil.
3. Remove or disconnect the following:
   
   NOTE

   Do not use metal scrapers, wire brushes, power abrasive discs, or other abrasive means to clean the sealing surfaces. These may cause scratches and gouges resulting in leak paths. Use a plastic scraper to clean the sealing surfaces.
   
   
   
   
   Front axle

   Oil pan
4. Remove and discard the oil pan gasket. Clean the sealing surfaces with metal surface cleaner. Allow the surfaces to dry for four minutes or until there is no sign of wetness, whichever is longer. Failure to do so can cause future oil leaks.
   
   
   

   

   Fig. Oil pan, pump and related parts-4.6L SOHC engine

To install:

NOTE

If the oil pan and gasket are not secured within four minutes of sealer application, the sealant must be removed and the sealing surfaces cleaned with metal surface cleaner.

1. Apply silicone gasket and sealant in the two places shown.
2. Position the new oil pan gasket and the oil pan and loosely install the bolts.
3. Tighten the bolts in three stages in the sequence shown.
   
   
   Step 1: Tighten to 18 inch lbs. (2 Nm)

   Step 2: Tighten to 15 ft. lbs. (20 Nm)

   Step 3: Tighten an additional 60 degrees.
4. Install the front axle.
   
   
   

   

   Fig. Apply silicone gasket and sealant in these two places-4.6L SOHC and DOHC engines
   
   
   
   

   

   Fig. Apply silicone gasket and sealant in these two places-4.6L SOHC and DOHC engines
   
   
   
   

   

   Fig. Oil pan bolt torque sequence-4.6L SOHC and DOHC engines

1. Before servicing the vehicle, refer to the -Precautions- section.
2. With the vehicle in NEUTRAL position on a hoist.
3. Drain the engine oil.
4. Lower the front axle (4WD).
5. Remove the front stabilizer bar.
6. Remove the oil pan bolts, oil pan and gasket.

To install:

WARNING

Do not use metal scrapers, wire brushes, power abrasive discs, or other abrasive means to clean the sealing surfaces. These can cause scratches and gouges resulting in leak paths. Use a plastic scraper to clean the sealing surfaces.

1. Clean the sealing surfaces with metal surface cleaner.
   
   NOTE

   If the oil pan and gasket are not secured within four minutes of sealer application, the sealant must be removed and the sealing surfaces cleaned with metal surface cleaner.
2. Apply silicone gasket and sealant in two places at the front corner of the pan-to-block mating surface.
3. Tighten the bolts in the sequence shown in three stages:
   
   
   Stage 1: Tighten to 18 inch lbs. (2 Nm).

   Stage 2: Tighten to 15 ft. lbs. (20 Nm).

   Stage 3: Tighten an additional 60 degrees.
   
   

   

   

   Fig. Oil pan bolt tightening sequence-2005 4.6L SOHC engine

5.0L Engine

NOTE

The oil pan cannot be removed with the engine in the vehicle.

1. Before servicing the vehicle, refer to the Precautions section.
2. Drain the engine oil.
3. Remove or disconnect the following:
   
   
   Negative battery cable

   Engine from the vehicle

   Oil pan and discard the gasket

To install:

1. Install or connect the following:
   
   
   Oil pan with a new gasket. Torque the bolts to 18 ft. lbs. (25 Nm).

   Engine to the vehicle

   Negative battery cable
2. Fill the engine with clean oil.
3. Start the vehicle and check for leaks, repair if necessary.