Very Frustrated, Please HELP!!!

[hilltopfarm]

So i'm trying to get my oil pan gasket put on. This is the upper oil pan, cast aluminum. My truck is a 03' 4.0L SOHC. I ran into these two little tabs that stick down on the rear output shaft side of the gasket. Wondering what to do with these tabs. I'm getting very frustrated, because I wanted to drop the engine in my truck today and this is all that is holding me up. I don't want to get it installed only to find that I have an oil leak on the oil pan, and have to pull it again. Both the shop manual and the Chiltons that I have do not mention these. The pictures of my problem are below... Thanks for any help!!

 

[hilltopfarm]

Any ideas?? Anyone??? I would like to drop the engine in my truck tomorrow, so I need to get this one figured out... Thanks

 

[97RangerXLT]

those tabs look like they are supposed to tuck into the groove on your main bearing hump. they are probably there to keep the gasket from spreading out. See if you can work them in and down far enough that the rubber sits flush on the bearing hump and then torque it down lightly.

AJ

 

[hilltopfarm]

Thats what I thought too, but the tabs are quite a bit wider than the slot in the bearing hump. Maybe I just need to get a screwdriver and work them in there?

 

[97RangerXLT]

that or maybe shave the tabs a bit.

AJ

 

[hilltopfarm]

Yeah, maybe that is what I need to do. I thought that it can't be right to shave a oil pan gasket, but I could be wrong. There is no way that those tabs are going to fit down the slots as they are.

All i'm concerned about is ensuring that the thing does not leak...if it does I have to pull the engine again to fix it...that would NOT be a happy day

So I guess plan B is to shave the tabs so that they fit, then RTV the areas where the manual says to, and torque it all down to spec and hope for the best!

 

[RangerSVT]

Cut the tabs about 1/4" below the mounting surface (to where the tabs will go 1/4" into the groove). They are designed to keep the gasket from walking away from the cap during pan install. It is a good idea to put a dab of RTV at all four corners of the main caps to help prevent leaks...

SVT

 

[FritzTKatt]

I'd shave it just enough to tuck down into the hole. That's the only thing that seems right.

And of course a dab of RTV never hurt anyone.

 

[hilltopfarm]

Thanks everyone for all the answers. I am going to shave those tabs down and install the gasket with RTV at the appropriate places. Thanks again everyone!!

 

[hilltopfarm]

Question...?

I have one more question about the oil pan. I ended up torquing it down and freaked out the at I might not have torqued the oil pump bolts...so took it off again, all was torqued to spec. I then repositioned the lower engine cradle back onto the block, and torqued to spec. That is when I noticed that my Ford Shop Manual and my Chilton manual list two different specs for the torque.

Here is what the Shop Manual says:

Chiltons says the following:

So which spec do I go with? The higher one in Chiltons or the Shop Manual. I'm inclined to go with the Shop Manual specs...