How to Tap an Oil Pan
Tapping an oil pan is a procedure performed on vehicles with integrated supercharged engines. The alternative procedure feeds oil to the supercharger from the oil pan instead of its self-contained reservoir. Self-contained oil pans on supercharged engines require more maintenance and must be changed more often and in addition to the motor oil. Tapping the oil pan bypasses the reservoir and provides lubrication to the supercharger, keeping it temperature more regulated. Also, you no longer have to service the self-contained reservoir because, when the oil is changed for the engine, it is also changed for the supercharger.
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Things You'll Need
- Vehicle lift
- Measuring tape
- White crayon
- Large sharp center punch
- Hammer
- Supercharger oil drain hose set with T-fitting
- Tap and die set
- Bearing grease
- Drain pan
- Hand wrench set
- Suitable engine oil for the vehicle
Instructions
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1
Raise the vehicle all the way up on the vehicle lift.
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2
Use the measuring tape to measure 1 3/4 inches down from the oil pan lip and 1/2 inch inside the pan away from the first oil pan bolt on the outside corner. Mark the measurement with a white crayon.
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3
Place a large sharpened center punch on the mark and then strike the punch sharply with a hammer to create a hole. The sharper the punch, the more precise the hole it will make in the side of the oil pan.
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4
Measure the thread pitch and diameter of the supercharger oil drain hose with the gauges supplied in the tap and die set. Find the suitable sized tap that matches the oil drain hose.
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5
Insert the tap into the tap wrench and tighten the wrench to support the tap. Place bearing grease into the flutes of the tap. This will help capture metal shavings cut from the threads created on the side of the pan as it is tightened into the pan.
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6
Thread the tap into the hole punched in the side of the oil pan. Turn the tap one full revolution and then back it off one-half a revolution until threads are formed. Thread the tap in until it bottoms out on its own threads and then remove it.
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7
Place a drain pan beneath the oil pan and then remove the oil drain plug with a hand wrench. This will flush out any contaminating metal shaving threads that might have entered the pan. Replace the plug after the oil has drained from the pan.
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8
Place the gasket on the threaded flange of the supercharger oil drain hose (supplied with the kit).
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9
Insert the threaded section of the supercharger oil drain hose into the tapped hole of the oil pan and tighten snugly with a hand wrench.
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10
Attach the open end of the supercharger oil drain hose to the T-fitting and the other side of the T-fitting to the oil sending hose.
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11
Lower the vehicle and add the proper amount and weight of oil indicated by the vehicle's fluid specifications.
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