> Oil pans don't have seals, they have gaskets. Seals are something that
> prevent leaks around shafts that turn. I have never had an oil pan
> gasket leak, but I have had oil seals leak. I am surprised that your
> mechanic gave up so easily without knowing what he/she was doing.
> > Oil pans don't have seals, they have gaskets. Seals are something that
> > prevent leaks around shafts that turn. I have never had an oil pan
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> such a way as to prevent leakage." so I think by definition the oil pan
> gasket could be called a seal.
I usually order my parts from a parts catalogue, not the dictionary.
There the correct names are engine oil pan gasket, engine oil drain plug
gasket, cylinder head gasket, valve cover gasket, rear main seal, and
oil seal. And we shouldn't forget the crank seal cover gasket, steering
gear seal, crankshaft seal, speedometer cable seal, seal rings, water
pump gasket, oil pump seal, valve cover spark plug seal, camshaft seal,
o-rings, pinion shaft seal, valve stem seal, etc.
> That said, I've had pan gaskets leak, though most commonly because one
> or more of the bolts was either loose or over-tightened.
And with a good mechanic, they are kept torqued. Seals wear out,
gaskets usually don't. The pan gasket should be replaced every time the
pan is dropped since it is such a cheap item and is frequently damaged
during removal of the pan. Actually most gaskets and seals are cheap.
Some are hard to replace though.

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Cheers, Steve Henning in Reading, PA, USA
Owned '67,'68,'71,'74,'79,'81,'87,'93,'95 & '01 Volvos.
The '67,'74,'79,'87,'95 and '01 through European Delivery.
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