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Oil Pan Removal 2001 Tacoma 2.7L TRD (Auto)

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by helmet, Nov 10, 2019.

  1. Nov 10, 2019 at 4:07 PM
    #1
    helmet

    helmet [OP] helmet

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    Hey Everybody,

    Im working on this project in my garage, bought this thing needing a head gasket and doing the timing chain and oil pan gasket while I have everything apart. I just got to the oil pan today and this looks like its going to take a lot of work to get off. The manual says there is a crossmember that is removable with four bolts, but that is not the case on this one. Im not sure if its because its the TRD, but theres not any room to really even lower the oil pan down off the two studs without removing the front diff. I also checked the FSM and wasn't able to find anything specific to oil pan removal and installation. Only mention I found was removing it as a step in the timing chain process.

    At this point this vehicle has not run since I bought it. So id hate to not do the oil pan, only to discover an oil pan leak once I get it running. Im also not sure when the timing chain was done last, so I wanted to do that as well, which requires taking the oil pan off. This thing has right around 180K miles on it.

    At this point what the best way to get this thing off is, but its looking like the front diff is going to have come off in order to get this done. Just curious if anybody has done this before and has any insight for me?

    Thanks in advance!

    Front view:
    IMG_2856.jpg
    Here you can see how tight this is from underneath. You can just see the crossmember at the front of this picture. Now much wiggle room there...
    IMG_2857.jpg As you can see, the crossmember looks to be different on this truck compared to the manual:
    IMG_2859.jpg IMG_2860.jpg
     
    GQ7227 likes this.
  2. Nov 10, 2019 at 9:18 PM
    #2
    cruiserguy

    cruiserguy Well-Known Member

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    I'm not 100% positive but I think I remember reading here in the forum that you do need to drop the diff to be able to remove the oil pan.
     
  3. Nov 11, 2019 at 6:37 AM
    #3
    mechanicjon

    mechanicjon They call me "Jonny Stubs"

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    Supercharged, AEM FIC/6, Meth Inj, ION Alloy's, Radio & Phone steering Wheel controls,Fabtech AAL, Billie's wrapped with 880's , Tundra big brake conversion, bully bars and Pioneer DDin Stereo/dvd with exterrnal usb ports. 290K and going strong.
    Diff has to come out. The manual you have is showing a 2wd 5 lug truck.
     
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  4. Nov 11, 2019 at 7:19 AM
    #4
    Timmah!

    Timmah! Well-Known Member

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    I've done this job on a 3RZ Auto 3rd Gen 4runner and the differential definitely needs to come out. In the video below, we struggled to get the differential out. Since making the video, I found an easier way to get it out and involves unbolting the driver side motor mount, jacking up the engine by using a hydraulic jack with a 4x4 piece of wood under the oil pan to disperse the load and jacking up the engine a couple inches or so, placing some type of wedge or spacer block in between the motor mount and frame to maintain the height you gained with the engine and then getting the jack out of your way. The other additional step is to disconnect the metal vacuum and breather lines on top of the differential. These lines will hook the power steering lines on the way out. You first have to disconnect the two rubber vacuum lines and one rubber breather line off the metal fittings. Then there's a couple bolts holding the lines to the differential. Once those are free, you can twist the whole metal line assembly towards the rear of the vehicle so they will clear the power steering lines on the way out.

    If you follow the video but also do what I stated above, the differential will come out without a fight. In case I missed something above, these additional steps are detailed in a pinned comment in the video. To separate the oil pan from the engine, a pan separation tool is handy. https://amzn.to/2KaiGuS The video doesn't cover getting the oil pan off and resealed. But, that isn't the hard part. The hard part is getting the differential out of your way. Good luck!

    https://www.youtube.com/embed/w_gPiDvh9v4
     
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  5. Nov 11, 2019 at 7:59 AM
    #5
    helmet

    helmet [OP] helmet

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    Awesome, thanks for the intel! Ill check the video out for this one. God they sure made that difficult to get to...
     
  6. Nov 11, 2019 at 5:10 PM
    #6
    Glamisman

    Glamisman Well-Known Member

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    do not stick a screwdriver between the pan and the block and expect it to "pop" off. The sealant Toyota uses (FIPG) is pretty tough stuff and all you will end up doing IS creating a future leak do to a deformed pan. I use a 1" thin gauge metal putty knife that has the blade that extends all the way through the handle so that when you tap on it you are tapping on the blade and not just the handle. You might have to chase the putty knife around the pan in a few spots but when it pops you will know.
     
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  7. Nov 11, 2019 at 5:54 PM
    #7
    cruiserguy

    cruiserguy Well-Known Member

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    I'll bet this is exactly what has happened to a couple members here who've taken theirs in to get the pan gasket fixed and it kept leaking after dealer 'fixed' it... Twice. I'll bet this is exactly what happened to them. I can't remember which member it was but I hope they see this
     
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  8. Nov 11, 2019 at 6:03 PM
    #8
    Timmah!

    Timmah! Well-Known Member

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    I remember that thread.
     
  9. Nov 11, 2019 at 6:04 PM
    #9
    cruiserguy

    cruiserguy Well-Known Member

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    If we see him or that thread we gotta give him a heads up. Can't remember who it was, but makes sense dontcha think?
     
  10. Nov 11, 2019 at 6:08 PM
    #10
    Timmah!

    Timmah! Well-Known Member

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    Yeah, it does make sense. Hearing about problems like this is constant reassurance that I'm much better off doing my own work. At least when I screw up, I know about it and will address it accordingly. When a shop screws up, you have to play detective and figure out what the mechanic did to screw things up. And, are they always going to fess up to their mistakes? Hell no!
     
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  11. Nov 11, 2019 at 6:15 PM
    #11
    cruiserguy

    cruiserguy Well-Known Member

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    My sentiments are the same, hombre. It's not a pride or I'm proud thing, I thank my lucky stars I'm able/have been able to do my own work as well. I know exactly what has been done, what hasn't, and the savings are cool but just a byproduct of it. I enjoy turning a wrench
     
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  12. Nov 11, 2019 at 8:44 PM
    #12
    Glamisman

    Glamisman Well-Known Member

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    In reply to the replies... I DO understand that my response is not what the OP was asking about and I hope that my unsolicited advice is taken with no ill feelings.
     
  13. Dec 9, 2019 at 11:24 PM
    #13
    helmet

    helmet [OP] helmet

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    Sorry for the slow response guys! I frequently go out of town for weeks at a time for work, so no computer where im at!

    I ended up not doing the oil pan gasket for a couple reasons. Reall the whole reason I wanted to do it was just for the experience of doing it, and at this point the oil pan doesnt show any signs of a leak, so "if it aint broke, dont fix it" mentality. Another reason is I dont have any experience with taking a front diff apart, but I have a feeling im going to be opening pandoras box with that. More work and life added into the equation and im just going to call it good with the work ive done thus far and get the truck out of the garage.

    No ill feelings dude, nobody wants to cause accidentally cause damage to a vehicle and do more harm than good :)
     
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  14. Dec 25, 2021 at 5:19 PM
    #14
    Matic

    Matic The "OFG" Baby!!!

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    Sorry to revive an old thread but are the 4x4 and prerunner oil pans different? I'm having a helluva time with clearance issues on my 4x4 conversion on my 2.7.
     
  15. Dec 26, 2021 at 7:07 PM
    #15
    O'Silver_Taco

    O'Silver_Taco Well-Known Member

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    Last edited: Dec 26, 2021
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  16. Dec 26, 2021 at 7:16 PM
    #16
    Matic

    Matic The "OFG" Baby!!!

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    Huge difference in the clearance. HUGE!
    I hope that is my issue because that diff isn't clearing with the factory prerunner 2.7 pan.

    Much appreciated!!
     
  17. Dec 26, 2021 at 7:23 PM
    #17
    O'Silver_Taco

    O'Silver_Taco Well-Known Member

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    They must of stuck on a 2rz oil siphon to match the shorten reach??

    Now I have a rebuilt 2rz block stuck on that pan scavenged off old 3rz......either god loves me or what.........

    And I have the 2wd......my crossmember drops out with 4 bolts....
    I tried getting pan out without removing that cross.....we were dragging it to mech in a few days.....could not get it out.....
     
    Last edited: Dec 26, 2021
  18. Dec 26, 2021 at 7:26 PM
    #18
    Matic

    Matic The "OFG" Baby!!!

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    Don't say that. Now I have to buy a 2rz siphon tube? This project is getting expensive .
     
  19. Dec 26, 2021 at 7:26 PM
    #19
    Matic

    Matic The "OFG" Baby!!!

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    @Bartmaster
     
  20. Dec 26, 2021 at 7:54 PM
    #20
    O'Silver_Taco

    O'Silver_Taco Well-Known Member

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    2rz

    1016055-2T.jpg
     
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