2.4L first gen.....any tips on replacing the oil pan? Had stripped drain plug :( Parts ordered

A real kick in the teeth while trying to get my new to me 2001 Tacoma 2.4 2WD all tuned up and fresh fluids. Previous owner had boogered up the drain plug....it felt very odd coming out...I knew I was screwed....and screwed I was..... Then I tried an emergency repair just to get me home by applying teflon tape to the plug....well while it was still spinning out the teflon worked its way into the darn pan and completely disappeared into the pan. I know I must sound like a real idiot and feel like one too.... So this is the hand I was dealt and I am moving forward. Ordered aftermarket pan...gasket...and drain plug. The only reason I am going to try the repair myself is that it uses the cork/rubber gasket vs the other trim levels that use sealant. Correct me if I am wrong.....it was available to order so I assume I am right. Just asking if you guys have done this repair...and if you have any tips before I dive in. I noticed the front corner bolt looks tricky. Can I get to it or do I have to remove obstructions? Thanks in advance!

 

I think the consensus is use toyota's FIPG instead of the rubber/cork gasket. This was the advice I received when asking a similar question but with the transmission. Would be best to check with your local toyota parts department to confirm which FIPG is used with the engine oil pan. When I look it up, its 2 different part#s. Check with the parts counter.

Also be sure to verify oil pan bolt and drain bolt torque specs. Be careful torquing them down.

Oh one more thing, everyone starts somewhere. No need to feel like an 'idiot'. Get yourself a repair manual, take your time and do it.

 

i would just weld a new female drain port

 

Thanks for the reply. I was really hoping to use the cork because it would be 10 times easier in my mind due to tight spaces and not smudging the sealant vs the cork gasket. And of course I just got a notification from Auto Zone that my shipment has been delayed .......As for welding in a new female port.......Ha....way beyond my skill level.....did you read the part about the teflon tape ending up inside my oil pan? I was thinking as I lay in bed last night....Push the truck off the ramps....pour in a cheap quart of oil.....and try to drain the oil and teflon tape out using a screen filter to verify the tape did come out. I couldnt fish it out last might because the angle of the ramps made the teflon run away from the drain hole.....but if she is on level ground.....the teflon should....I say should.....just drain right out. Then I would be back to just a stripped drain plug........possibly run the next size large in and see if it bores new threads?

 

do it right. Remove the pan, not that hard. remove the small crossmember in the front. Once it is off I like the idea above of having a female plug installed, while it is off you can clean up everything in there. There is a thread here somewhere about removing the pan.

 

What do you mean by installing a female plug.......ohhhh you mean just repair the OEM pan....drill and tap vs using the aftermarket new pan? I didnt know the thing in the way was called a cross member....but you are saying it is ok to just unbolt the darn thing to give me better access. If you could guide me to the link on removing the pan on a 2.4 I would appreciate it....I will try some searches now as well.

 

Looks like my parts wont arrive until tomorrow but one last push......I did a search and could not find a thread specific to the 2.4 regarding removing the pan. Aroma already mentioned to remove the small cross brace in the front which as I recall was a small triangular support that was blocking access to the very front bolt. My question is.....on the 2.4 is it possible to remove the pan without removing the support brace or will a pick up tube not enable me to jockey the pan around enough to remove? It looked like for the 2.7 it was different ....maybe the 2.7 is 4WD??

 

Yes, weld your old one. Yes you must remove front crossmember 4bolts. Here is a link. Ignore the entire thread except for the pictures in post #1. He posted pictures of the repair manual for a 2.4 5 lug like you have. Follow the instructions. Again disregard the rest of the thread as it will confuse anyone.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/oil-pan-removal-2001-tacoma-2-7l-trd-auto.637913/

 

Thanks Aroma......I have seen and looked through that thread and yes it is a bit confusing. He is obviously a far level above my thought process with the diagrams and schematics....Im just a nut and bolt guy and if it gets too technical I have to pay the man. From his pics in pic #1 I see a cross member moving east west but he has a 4x4 and I do not. I do however have a small triangular brace of sorts covering the front drivers side bolt on the pan. If i have to remove the brace I certainly will. I purchased two qts of cheap oil today to flush the teflon tape out of my oil pan...if I am successful in removing the tape I will venture to tap and insert a plug for the fix into the OEM pan. If I can easily remove the pan and just use the OEM cork gasket and my new aftermarket pan then that is plan B. That said I am at the mercy of the wise folks o n this forum that have already walked this path.

 

The cork/rubber whatever it is gasket will do but know that you may end up needing to change it again sooner rather than later. No need to feel overwhelmed.

 

Cool....this might not be my forever truck....and if that cork lasted 194k then it has surpassed my expectations by a long shot. That said....I am not being stubborn.... ( yes I am ) but clearly hear you are telling me the way to go is use the special sauce over the cork. If I have to scrape both mating surfaces to perfection then apply the sauce and magically while laying on my back in my work parking lot get the pan in position without smudging the sauce and screwing up the seal then I am screwed......so long live the cork......or pay the man. I appreciate your input and I am better off knowing the correct way of getting it done.......

 

Well its been a week of research and I have seen every video on how to make this repair. There were some real fancy repairs and some basic band aid repairs. I ordered a new oil pan from Auto Zone and after looking at the replacement oil pan with the cheap Chinese drain plug set up I thought I would just stick with the nicer OEM pan that is in the truck. I saw Time Sert was a nice repair but there were a lot of metal shavings....then there was some company that was even a level above Time Sert that had air blowing through the system while boring new threads. In the end I currently have the magnetic Eco Plug installed just so I could get the truck back to my house and for that the Eco Plug served its purpose. I purchased an oversized plug with piggy back ....google it if you have never hear of it. If I can get the oversize plug to seal with no leaks I like the idea that I dont ever remove the main plug just the piggy back insert. Fingers crossed that it will work. I will report back once installed.