I have a 2002 Durango 2WD with the 4.7, I need to drop the oil pan in order to clean out the oil pickup.

Can the pan be dropped without lifting the motor or will I need to lift the motor for clearance?

Thanks

 

i believe the 2wd models you can get the oil pan off w/o lifting the motor, the 4x4s have the front driveline in the way however.

short version: NO you do NOT need to lift the engine

 

Please take pics and any insight you find when doing this, i have a feeling i will be doing this soon and asked myself the same question!

 

Just wondering what the diagnosis is / symptoms are that you are thinking a screen cleaning is in order for the oil pump.
I guess diag might be - weird oil pressure.

 

Thanks, I think it will be a project for today or tomorrow.

 

Yes oil pressure issues, when I first start it it the gauge jumps up to about 3/4 mark then within a few seconds it drops to 1/4 mark and stays there, as i drive and accelerate it keeps dropping to nothing and then jumping back up to the 1/4 mark.

 

Working on this today, I removed all the oil pan bolts and worked the gasket loose all the way around the pan lip but i can't get the pan to drop down, i can rock it side to side and it seems loose like it should drop but it won't, it almost feels like there is something in the middle of the pan internally holding it?

Am I missing something?

 

not that i know of, you should be able to unbolt the oil pan all the way around and pull it off

 

I see the new oil pan gasket has a windage tray attached to it?

Could that have something to do with it? Does the windage tray bolt to the block maybe?

 

The windage tray was the holdup, but there is no way the pan is coming out of there without raising the engine, there is not anywhere close to enough clearance.