Oil pan/gasket/oil drain plug/ filter

2007 LEXUS IS 300

215,000 MILES • 3.5L • V6 • 2WD • AUTOMATIC

BRITTANY WESTBROOK

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I bought this car from a personal seller. it has already had a bunch of problems with it. When I went to go change the oil I realized that it looked like they put a jack on the oil pan to with the car up and it’s dented now (the oil pan) there’s no leaks coming out and there hasn’t been any leaks, but when I went up underneath it it looks like they got a cheap drain plug in the gasket looks like it melted. Either that or they put some type of blue molding around it. I cannot get the drain plug out. There was also no covering for the oil filter. The car barely has any oil in it. Can I just replace the filter and add new oil? Also, does the pan need to be fixed or replaced if there is no leak?

Jul 24, 2020 at 1:22 PM

KASEKENNY

CERTIFIED EXPERT
18,907 POSTS

I would replace the pan. If it is not hitting anything the you may be okay, but this is going to effect a couple things. First it will affect the amount of oil the engine can hold. You will still be able to add the normal amount but it will push the oil level up in the pan and the crank shaft will potentially hit the oil which will aerate the oil and cause engine issues. Also, the oil pick up is submerged in the oil and you don't want to risk disrupting its ability to access oil.

As for the oil plug, you may be able to get away with just adding new oil and a filter this time and then change the pan (which will include a new plug) next time but clearly you are going to need to address this.

Sounds like someone severely shorted cut some repairs and did more damage in the process.

Let me know if you have other questions. Thanks

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Jul 24, 2020 at 1:36 PM