Engine oil and oil filter replacement and sump cleaning

RHINO3K

MEMBER
1995 HYUNDAI ELANTRA
13,000 MILES

Good day

I plan on changing my car engine oil and oil filter and I also plan on fixing a leak from the oil sump/pan.

The oil sump/pan is not sealing well against the engine causing a leak. I am going to use gasket maker to reseal it because the original seal from Hyundai is too expensive and parts for this car is hard to find in my country.

I would like to know whether you can provide me with any useful hints and tips for the abovementioned. For example, a person I know says he usually puts in a bit of diesel into the petrol engine (mixed with the old oil), starts it up and lets it idle for a few seconds before draining it.

Any responses would be highly appreciated!

4 Replies

FIXITMR

MECHANIC
9,990 POSTS

Unless engine is known to be sludged up by example non detergent oil use no special cleaning is needed or advised. If oil has gotten very dirty (black) drain and then put 2 quarts of cheap oil in it and idle for a while and then drain. Then change filter and add good oil.

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Friday, March 30th, 2012 AT 3:58 AM

RHINO3K

MEMBER
12 POSTS

The oil is fiarly dirty so I will flush it out with engine detergent. Is it okay to use gasket maker as a seal for the oil sump/pan?

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Friday, March 30th, 2012 AT 8:43 AM

KHLOW2008

MECHANIC
41,814 POSTS

You can use gasket maker but some sumps might not be designed for use with liquid gaskets and you might have a problem getting the job done well.

Oil can be dirty due to lack of change but if it is not sludged, you need not flush it. Remove the oil filler cap and check if there are signs of sludging. Flushing might not clean out everything.

Before putting in the detergent, run the engine to operating temperature first.

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Friday, March 30th, 2012 AT 12:44 PM

RHINO3K

MEMBER
12 POSTS

I've checked the engine for sludge and it turns out there wasn't any. I left it to drain overnight and this morning I plan on cleaning the sump and checking the leak on the oil filter bracket.

According to the manual, the sump does not need a gasket so hopefully the seal is still in good condition.

Thanks for all the info! You guys are really helpful and I'm actually referring a lot of my friends to this site for help with their car problems.

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Saturday, March 31st, 2012 AT 5:07 AM