Draining Oil Pan: 1986 F150 Maintenance Guide

If you're looking to drop the oil pan on your 1986 F150, there are a few things you should know. Firstly, it is important to drain the engine oil before attempting to remove the oil pan. This will involve locating and removing the drain plug from the oil pan and collecting the emerging oil in a catch pan. Depending on your engine configuration, you may also need to drain the cooling system and remove the fan shroud.

Once the oil has been drained, you will need to remove the surrounding engine components and accessories, such as the cooling fan/radiator shroud, automatic transmission lines, starter motor, and exhaust system. You may also need to separate the engine and transmission and jack up the transmission to gain additional clearance.

With these components loosened or disconnected, you can then slightly lift the engine and remove the oil pan. It may be necessary to use a floor jack to lift the engine and place blocks of wood between the engine and the frame to support it.

Keep in mind that this is a complex and messy job, so it is recommended to have the necessary tools and a good amount of patience.

Drain the engine crankcase of oil

To drain the engine crankcase of oil in a 1986 F150, follow these steps:

Firstly, for safety purposes, disconnect the negative (black) battery cable. Then, locate the drain plug in the oil pan and have a catch pan ready to collect the oil. If your oil drain plug is on the side of the oil pan, position the catch pan so that the oil lands in it and doesn't spill onto the ground. Remove the drain plug using a boxed-end wrench or socket—do not use an open-end wrench as it will strip easily.

As the oil is draining, clean the oil drain plug with a lint-free rag—do not use solvents. When the oil has drained completely, reinstall the drain plug. First, hand-tighten the plug as much as possible to prevent cross-threading. Then, finish tightening the drain plug with a wrench or socket, ensuring it is snug but not overtightened.

If your 1986 F150 has an automatic transmission, you will also need to disconnect the hard line(s) running to the oil cooler in the radiator before draining the oil. Failure to do so may result in damage when lifting the engine. Have a catch pan ready, as some transmission fluid will leak from the lines when disconnected.

Note: It is recommended to wear latex or oil-resistant gloves when handling motor oil, as it is a hazardous material.

Remove the oil pan bolts

To remove the oil pan bolts, you must first ensure that the vehicle is lifted off the ground. This can be achieved by using a floor jack and jack stands. Once the vehicle is lifted, the next step is to drain the engine oil. This is done by locating and removing the drain plug from the oil pan and allowing the oil to drain into a catch pan.

After the oil has been drained, the next step is to remove the surrounding engine components and accessories. This includes unbolting the cooling fan/radiator shroud and separating it from the radiator. If the vehicle is equipped with an automatic transmission, the hard lines running to the oil cooler in the radiator must also be disconnected.

With these components removed, the engine can now be slightly lifted using a floor jack. Place a block of wood on the floor jack pad and slowly lift the engine until the oil pan is accessible. Once the engine is lifted, the oil pan bolts can be removed. It is important to collect the pan reinforcement rails as they are removed to prevent them from falling into the oil pan.

With all the bolts removed, the oil pan should now be free to drop down and rest on the crossmember. If the pan is stuck in place, it may be necessary to gently tap it with a rubber mallet to break the seal.

Remove the oil pickup tube

To remove the oil pickup tube, you will need to follow these steps:

Firstly, you need to gain access to the oil pump by removing the necessary components. This includes the radiator, shroud, exhaust bolts, air intake tubes, and possibly the upper intake manifold. You may also need to jack up the transmission and engine to gain sufficient clearance.

Next, locate the oil pump and identify the bolts holding the oil pickup tube in place. There should be two bolts at the front, attaching the tube to the oil pump, and potentially another bolt further inside, attaching a support bracket to the number 3 main bearing cap stud.

Now, carefully remove these bolts. This step requires caution and patience, as it is easy to drop bolts or gasket material into the oil pan, causing further complications.

Once the bolts are removed, gently lower the oil pickup tube and screen into the oil pan. Be cautious not to drop anything else into the pan.

With the oil pickup tube lowered, you can now proceed with removing the oil pan and replacing the gasket.

It is important to note that this process can be challenging and may require ingenuity to navigate the tight spaces and remove the necessary components. Always exercise caution and patience to avoid further complications.

Clean the oil pan mating surfaces

To clean the oil pan mating surfaces of your 1986 F150, you'll first need to drain the engine crankcase of oil. Locate and remove the drain plug from the oil pan and let the oil drain into a catch pan.

Next, you'll need to remove the oil pan itself. This will involve removing various surrounding engine components and accessories, such as the cooling fan/radiator shroud, transmission cooler lines, starter motor, and exhaust system. You'll also need to loosen the transmission mount nuts and remove the oil pan bolts. With these components loosened or disconnected, you can then slightly lift the engine and remove the oil pan.

Now it's time to clean the mating surfaces. Use a scraper, razor blade, or plastic/composite scraper to remove any old gasket material or residue from both the engine block and the oil pan mating surfaces. Be careful not to use metal tools on soft aluminum surfaces, as they can cause gouges and damage the sealing ability of the gasket. You can also use a solvent like acetone or brake cleaner to help remove any stubborn residue or grime. Make sure the surfaces are completely clean and free of any oil or grime before installing the new gasket.

Once the mating surfaces are clean, you can slide the new gasket into place and proceed with reassembling the oil pan and the surrounding components.

Reinstall the oil pan

With the new pan gasket in place and the oil pan tightened, proceed with reassembly.

Slowly lift the engine to relieve pressure on the wooden blocks and remove the blocks.

Lower the engine onto the motor mounts and install. You may need to slightly shift the engine for correct mount alignment.

Torque the motor mounts to 35-45 ft/lbs.

Tighten the transmission mount fasteners.

Reattach the exhaust pipes to the exhaust manifolds.

Install the starter motor and torque the fasteners to 18 ft/lbs. Attach electrical wires to the solenoid.

If applicable, reconnect the transmission cooler hard lines.

Reattach the fan shroud.

Replace the oil filter and fill the crankcase with the specified amount of oil as outlined in the owner's manual for your particular engine configuration.

Attach any disconnected cooling hoses and fill the cooling system with antifreeze (if applicable).

Reconnect the battery cable and lower the vehicle off of jack stands.

Check the automatic transmission fluid level after it reaches operating temperature.

Frequently asked questions