Fixing a hole in the oil pan

[Brandon1023]

This is for my 2005 Nissan Maxima (not your average go kart), but I know there's many people on here with great ideas, so I figured I'll post here as well. Basically, I rebuilt my Nissan's 6 cylinder and put it all back together, and mounted it. When it came time to bolt on the a/c compresser, I suppose I drove the (incorrect) bolt straight through the aluminum on the upper oil pan, causing a hole to bore itself, giving oil a passage to leak right out of.

What do you recommend? I'm not going to replace the oil pan, because I've spent enough money and time (2 months as of yesterday). I was thinking maybe I could jb weld the hole from inside the pan and apply plenty of rtv gasket sealer inside the bolt hole from the outside, once it's time to put the a/c back on. Any other ideas? Thanks.

 

[Doc Sprocket]

Clean the bejezzus out of the repair area with a good solvent like acetone, that doesn't leave a residue. Scuff sadn adjacent smooth areas, and re-clean. JB Weld from there. I think I would use the putty version for the first "coat", as your normal JB will likely seep through the hole.

 

[mckutzy]

I think JB is a quick fix. JB will hold, sometimes more than the rest of the car. I would however, take it to a welding shop(well, have a friend take you), especially one that is automotive savvy.
Is that a heli-coil in the threaded boss? If so that might hamper the welding, so a new one might be needed.

 

[Doc Sprocket]

What's it gonna cost to have someone weld cast aluminum?

And I must say- I have had properly done JB repairs last the remainder of the vehicle's service life. I did a huge crack in the cooling jacket of a '81 mustang's intake manifold once. Lasted a ridiculously long time.

 

[Brandon1023]

Clean the bejezzus out of the repair area with a good solvent like acetone, that doesn't leave a residue. Scuff sadn adjacent smooth areas, and re-clean. JB Weld from there. I think I would use the putty version for the first "coat", as your normal JB will likely seep through the hole.

Took me a minute to figure out who this was.. Mr. 4WD with the homemade miracles. I searched the issue on the 6th gen Maxima forum and someone else was suggested the same putty from JB Weld to fix a hole in his timing cover, so I don't see how it won't work. I'll keep the non-residual solvent in mind, and with that being said, hopefully Walmart will have the JB Weld tonight.

edit: Also, let's suppose walmart only carries the liquid kind.. Can I try to stuff the broken part of the hole with something that will prevent the liquid from seeping? I'm going to look around for the cracked piece of aluminum.

 

[mymumisaman]

Can't you thread the hole then thread a small bolt in there with some of that jb weld? Thread it in as far as you need then chop the remainder off ?

 

[Brandon1023]

Okay, I used the putty, put the pan back on, filled it with oil, and it's holding up fine. Thanks for the suggestions.