Oil Pan Gasket “cut & RTV” method… Anyone here done it with success?
 

With a currently leaking oil pan gasket on my 211k mile X5 3.0, I read with much interest about shortcutting the gasket job by using the “cut & RTV” method that @cn90 mentioned a good while back in an oil pan gasket thread. Anyone here try it with success? I’m curious about how much disassembly is required to drop the oil pan enough to install the cut gasket. Thanks in advance for any insight-

you should have enough room to stick the new/cut gasket but might not have enough to thoroughly clean the surface on the pan and on the block.

I had a massive leak underneath on my '04 X3 that pretty much soaked the pan but it turned out to be an oil filter housing gasket that was dripping down to the oil pan.

I just went through the oil pan gasket replacement and looked into the cut method. Like X5goldie mentioned, I think it would be difficult to properly clean the surfaces if you didn't drop the subframe. Access was challenging even with the subframe down.


The job was a bear overall. Getting the front diff back in place was extremely difficult. Not sure if there are tricks to this but it's an awkward shape with very limited access, and heavy. Dropping the subframe was time consuming but not actually that bad. The Bentley manual has a great technique, keep the suspension arms attached loosely and this will prevent the subframe from completely falling out and will make it much easier to align it for reinstall.

We discussed this cut + RTV technique for E39 5-series back in 2011, some 14 years ago. There are roughly some 17 pages to go through...

https://www.bimmerfest.com/threads/r...gasket.532166/

Thanks for the reply. I’m curious, did you have access to a lift when you did the job?

Thanks for chiming in! It was that exact thread that inspired me to look into this method in the first place. I appreciate you sharing your experience! My biggest concern is the difference in the complexity between the e53 and the other vehicles mentioned in the various threads. I’m concerned specifically about the available clearance and access when dropping the pan on the e53. Was hoping someone may have done it successfully and shared their ‘secrets’. :D