I have an oil leak on my wife's 2008 Grand Caravan. It has been getting progressively worse over the last 2 months & now I can see quite a bit of oil on the bottom of the oil pan. I'm not sure yet but it looks like it might be coming from the oil pan gasket (which is currently RTV).

Is there anything special I should know before dropping the pan to replace the gasket at my next oil change?

 

try and add some dye to the oil and check with a black light before dropping the oil pan. We had an oil leak, the dealer replaced the oil cooler assembly and the oil pan seal and it continued, ended up being an oil galley plug leak which took them 7 hrs to replace b/c it was behind all the acccesories. Best to make sure where the oil is coming from before replacing items.

 

which engine do you have? 3.3/3.8 or the 4.0l engine?
personally, i havent really seen many Oil pan gasket issue yet. But look for the Highest spot of leak. for 3.3 and 3.8 engine, look around the Head Gasket area, the lower intake manifold gasket is a common place for oil leak.

for the 4.0l engine, Oil cooler is a common leak area.
Without Dropping the Pan, try clean it up, and tighten every Bolts on the oil pan a little, see if that helps.

 

Update: I degreased & cleaned the engine completely, top & bottom. I'm now waiting to see if I can determine the origin of the leak. Will post again when I can get back under to take a long look.

Also, it's the 3.8L & I was wrong on my quick look underneath about the oil pan.

 

Hi,
Its better if you new oil pan gasket, otherwise you'll end up depriving your engine. It may stop running smoothly.