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That 'just tap it' advice from a parts guy almost cost me an oil pan
Guy at the counter at Napa on 4th Street told me to use a dead blow hammer to tap the old oil pan gasket loose. Said it always breaks the seal without bending the flange. Tried it on a 2007 F-150 with heavy RTV from a previous hack job. Three taps in and I heard a crack, yep, hairline split right near the drain plug. Ended up doing an entire pan swap for a customer who wasn't expecting an extra $180 in parts. I should've known better because that gasket was baked on for 90,000 miles. Now I only use the plastic scraper and heat gun method, takes longer but zero cracked steel. Anyone else had a parts counter tip go sideways on them like that, or is it just me?
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spencer_moore3929d ago
Buddy of mine had the same thing happen with a valve cover on an old Jeep. He took the advice from a kid at AutoZone who swore up and down a rubber mallet would pop it loose. Two whacks and the corner of the cover folded like cardboard. He ended up having to order a whole new cover off eBay and waited three days to finish the job. That kid probably still thinks his trick works on every engine ever made. Funny how the counter guys never mention heat or patience, just smack it harder.
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