Aftermarket Oil Pan?

[Gadget Man]

Like many other C7 owners, my engine’s oil pan has started to rust on me. Instead of removing it, sanding it down and repainting it, I was wondering if there are any aluminum aftermarket oil pans available for this engine. One with cooling fins would be ideal. I’ve been unable however, to find anything online. Has anybody found anything like this for the C7?

[firedoc]

X2 watching

[desertdd]

https://aftermarket.supply/caterpillar/1154170.html

Caterpillar Stainless Steel Oil Pans - Fuel Tanks, Oil Pans, Stainless Steel, Heavy Duty | SnoDepot

[Gadget Man]

Thanks, neither one of those popped up when I did my search. Not exactly what I was looking for, but still better than the OE metal pan.

[FIRE UP]

Well Sir,
I don't know what kind of rust condition your pan is in but, take a look at mine. Our coach is an '04 Itasca Horizon 36GD with the CAT C-7 330HP. We purchased the coach just over 7 years ago. And that pan, looked like that when we bought the coach. So, I too looked around for either an aftermarket or new pan. Well, we lived in San Diego at the time so, I called a local CAT center and low and behold, they had both the pan and the gasket in stock.

But, I had to have CPR when I was told the price. It was, at that time, almost $400 for the pan and somewhere around $75 for a gasket. So, I evaluated the pan closely and, thought what the heck, I'll give it a once-over and see how long it lasts. So, I got out my giant piece of cardboard to lay on and, went to work. I sanded and wire brushed for a couple of hours and got it as clean and prepped as it was gonna get. I then wiped it all down with Lacquer thinner a 1/2 dozen times. I really didn't even bother taping things off for re-paint.

I had some old yellow spray can paint hanging around so, that's what that pan got. That job was done just shy of 7 years ago. That pan is in the same shape today, as it was when the minute I finished painting it.

So, it's certainly up to you to stay on the hunt for a wazoo aftermarket pan 'cause your's has some rust on it. But, at a savings of around $450-$500 for me, it was SERIOUSLY well worth that effort (not really that much) and the $1.00 in sand paper and, the left over $3.00 can of spray paint. I'f that pan showed any signs at all of rusting again, I'd do the same exact thing I did almost 7 years ago. Your choice.
Scott

[Skip426]

There was a 30 qt. aluminum pan available for my 3126B the forerunner of the C-7 . Because of it's shape it wouldn't fit in my application. ( exhaust runs under the pan , where the aluminum one was deepest)
There may be similar available for the C-7, but as Scott says , make sure your sitting down when you ask about price.

[1doodadd]

Here is an Aluminum one for sale on eBay make an offer on it including the shipping, don't hurt to ask. Cat part number on it even


https://www.ebay.com/itm/Caterpillar...wAAOSwwbdWOnCG

[Gadget Man]

Thanks 1doodad. I looked at the listing, but unless I’m missing something, it doesn’t appear to be aluminum. One of the benefits of an aluminum pan is that there is no need for paint.

[desertdd]

The problem with the Aluminum pans I have seen is they are they they have the deep sump and in many cases they will be to low to the ground on a lot of coach's like my Discovery with a Freightliner chassis. I have plenty of room side to side but not from the bottom. Ideally I would like a pan wider at the bottom to give my more capacity but I have never seen a pan with this configuration.

[1doodadd]

Originally Posted by Gadget Man

Thanks 1doodad. I looked at the listing, but unless I’m missing something, it doesn’t appear to be aluminum. One of the benefits of an aluminum pan is that there is no need for paint.

Its an aluminum pan. Look at the casting flanges at how thick they are and look at the part number it is raised and not imprentened or stamped into the steel. Its an aluminum pan

Go to the Cat parts Store and run your engine number and cross reference part number to see if pan will fit your block

https://parts.cat.com/en/catcorp

[Skip426]

If it's a Caterpillar part ; it'll be painted yellow .

Steel , aluminum , sometimes even plastic parts , all painted , yellow.

[ftodaro]

The other issue with aluminum is that it is easier to strip out the drain plug. I had the same old Rusty pan as Fired UP had and did what he did. I went to Cat and bought a rattle can of their pant for 6.00 and it looks like new.

[No Sweat]

Originally Posted by Skip426

If it's a Caterpillar part ; it'll be painted yellow .

Steel , aluminum , sometimes even plastic parts , all painted , yellow.

If it's a CAT part it's YELLOW !!!

[Bigd9]

Originally Posted by FIRE UP

Well Sir,
I don't know what kind of rust condition your pan is in but, take a look at mine. Our coach is an '04 Itasca Horizon 36GD with the CAT C-7 330HP. We purchased the coach just over 7 years ago. And that pan, looked like that when we bought the coach. So, I too looked around for either an aftermarket or new pan. Well, we lived in San Diego at the time so, I called a local CAT center and low and behold, they had both the pan and the gasket in stock.

But, I had to have CPR when I was told the price. It was, at that time, almost $400 for the pan and somewhere around $75 for a gasket. So, I evaluated the pan closely and, thought what the heck, I'll give it a once-over and see how long it lasts. So, I got out my giant piece of cardboard to lay on and, went to work. I sanded and wire brushed for a couple of hours and got it as clean and prepped as it was gonna get. I then wiped it all down with Lacquer thinner a 1/2 dozen times. I really didn't even bother taping things off for re-paint.

I had some old yellow spray can paint hanging around so, that's what that pan got. That job was done just shy of 7 years ago. That pan is in the same shape today, as it was when the minute I finished painting it.

So, it's certainly up to you to stay on the hunt for a wazoo aftermarket pan 'cause your's has some rust on it. But, at a savings of around $450-$500 for me, it was SERIOUSLY well worth that effort (not really that much) and the $1.00 in sand paper and, the left over $3.00 can of spray paint. I'f that pan showed any signs at all of rusting again, I'd do the same exact thing I did almost 7 years ago. Your choice.
Scott

Hi Scott, That picture if the original oil pan looked a LOT like mine. I used a pressure washer and some sandpaper to clean all of the loose paint off, then sprayed it with Majic Caterpillar Yellow paint from Tractor Supply. Like yours, it still looks great after a few years of use.

I wonder why Cat's oil pans are not holding their original paint?