Screw In Oil Pan??

[Snakebyt]

Here is my first official call for help from the board (yes I am a VCA Member) ~ Saturday morning (after a track day at Mosport) I found a small machine screw on the magnetic plug for the oil pan. The screw is gray, philips head and about half an inch long. I can't say when it found its way into the pan, other than to say it has been about six weeks since my last oil change.

Does anyone know what this could be ?? I am concerned on two fronts, the first that I don't want to drive the car if my oil pick-up or similar is loose/damaged and the second, I have run the car at fairly high sustained RPM at the track with this screw in the pan.

Could use some help here ~ car is running strong otherwise. Thanks!

2000 GTS

 

[Tom Sessions]

It is one of the screws used to hold the windage tray to the oil pan.No need for alarm.BUt it would be a good idea to pull the pan and check them all and replace as needed.

 

[GTS Dean]

Sounds like one of the sump cover attachment screws. This cover separates the bottom of the pan from the windage tray. There is a good screen between the floor of the oil pan and the siphon tube (which is cast integrally with the pan) and there is very little chance that one of these loose fasteners would cause any problems. Get the dealer to pull the pan off, clean it well and place a drop of Loctite on each of the screws that hold the sump cover down.

 

[Jerry Scott[CO]]

I've had the same thing and it is the sump cover screws that will vibrate out. Dean is right, not much chance of these causing any damage, but you do need to drain the oil, remove the pan and remove all of the cover screws. Spray a solvent into the holes to clean out any oil, then air dry them, then lock them in place with red Loctite. If you feel really ambitious, drill the screw heads and safety wire them in place.

 

[Snakebyt]

As always, thanks for the comforting information! Any thoughts on the dealer commentary if I leave my fresh Royal Purple in the pan for the service work VS OEM Mobil 1 ??

Again, thanks for the quick responses .. I will sleep a little better tonight!

2000 GTS
The usual goodies ....

 

[Jerry Scott[CO]]

There shouldn't be an issue with the Royal Purple, but you will need to empty the pan to fix the problem. It will need to be solvent cleaned to get the Loctite to work properly. Your dealer should also pay for a refill with Mobil 1, as part of the warranty, so you will lose your fresh RP. You could run their Mobil 1 until your next change, then go back to RP.

You might want to consider doing the trap door modification to the pan while you are inside, especially if you are tracking the car. Kip Partridge 303-697-5821, or Joe Dozzo 303-279-0877, can do this modification. I have Kip's and believe in it.