Composite Oil Pans

[Shel_B]

We sometimes discuss "plastic" components in cars and, more to the point, on engines. Plastic oil pans come up now and again. These pans are not just simple plastic material, but rather they are of a composite material that is designed for strength and durability. At least that's the intention. My experience is that the composite oil filter canister on my Camry has held up quite well for fourteen years, and that has been the case with many other Toyota owners that I know and know of.

Recently, I came across an online article about composite oil pans from Composites World magazine and decided to link to it here. It might help clear up some misconceptions and enhance our understanding of these products.

https://www.compositesworld.com/articles/autocomposites-update-engine-oil-pans

Lighter and Less Costly: This short-glass PA 6 lower pan on PSA Peugeot Citroën’s Peugeot 508 saloon/sedan was 60% lighter as well as less costly than the metal version it replaced. Source: Royal DSM

You may be asked to provide a name and email address to read the entire article. I did so, but used a second email address for just this purpose.

 

[JTK]

To me the only good thing about them is they tend to have a nice recessed gasket with them, as opposed to having to RTV a metal pan on.

Other than that, it's got to be all about cost savings and reducing NHV.

Bad news is the impact resistance on these aren't going to be like a steel or aluminum pan. I know for fact a fella on a Nissan board I frequent sent a stick through the plastic transmission pan on the 9spd in his 2022 Nissan Frontier while light off-roading. Had to be towed to the dealer and was not cheap for a new plastic pan and ATF refill.

 

[Kira]

I priced the plastic pan/filter combo + fluid for a friend's 3.6 in a 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee.
I recall ~$340.
A garage did the entire job for him for >$800.

Why make the filter unchangeable?
RockAuto had a metal replacement pan with a serviceable filter.

 

[Nessism1]

Just say NO to plastic engine parts! Valve covers: NO. Oil pans: NO. Water pumps, thermostat housings, NO< NO<NO.

 

[CKN]

Just say NO to plastic engine parts! Valve covers: NO. Oil pans: NO. Water pumps, thermostat housings, NO< NO<NO.

You realize how silly this post is...right? Because you have plenty of vehicles running around with high miles with many, many plastic parts underneath the hood....and other places.

 

[bdcardinal]

They are only good when they are used as a lower oil pan that is simple to change when a gorilla goes ham on a drain plug.

 

[BrendanC]

i am okay with a plastic intake and valve covers. but plastic oil pans are a strict no from me. something so vital to engine/transmission operation should not be made of plastic. especially with the amount of heat cycles a oil pan sees regardless of being engine or transmission

 

[fantastic]

More "Weight Savings" & plastic gets brittle over time...we know what brittle plastic does. If I bought a vehicle that had one I'd learn to maintain it as I've done anything else but metal has served many well for a very long time. I watched a teryl video on plastic transmission.

 

[Oillover]

You realize how silly this post is...right? Because you have plenty of vehicles running around with high miles with many, many plastic parts underneath the hood....and other places.

+1
BMW's plastic cooling system components are some of the most durable on the market.

 

[supton]

Back when I owned my VW, VW was using aluminum oil pans. The "hot" thing to do was to get a skidplate so as to protect that metal oil pan--as any hit would shatter the pan. Maybe not in a million pieces kind of shatter, but they didn't dent, they simply cracked and big chunks would fall off (with the oil of course).

You know, if we would just let our engines leak a bit of oil, a steel pan should last forever and not rust out. I bet English cars never had a rusty oil pan.

These plastic bits don't worry me. Different kind of plastic than the stuff that gets brittle. Not all plastics are the same. Maybe they won't last 50 years--but how many 50 year old cars are still out there? (lots, but now find out what percentage of their siblings went to the scrapyard long ago)

 

[SC Maintenance]

To me the only good thing about them is they tend to have a nice recessed gasket with them, as opposed to having to RTV a metal pan on.

Other than that, it's got to be all about cost savings and reducing NHV.

Bad news is the impact resistance on these aren't going to be like a steel or aluminum pan. I know for fact a fella on a Nissan board I frequent sent a stick through the plastic transmission pan on the 9spd in his 2022 Nissan Frontier while light off-roading. Had to be towed to the dealer and was not cheap for a new plastic pan and ATF refill.

I agree. I am perfectly fine with composite valve covers and intakes. OIl pan I still think is a poor idea. They fail catastrophically (crack) rather than dent.

 

[Exhaustgases]

I'd rather keep my plastic straws and see way less plastic on anything I use.
The cheaper plastic pans are for the manufacture to make $ on, not to pass on those savings to us.
Now lets talk about the Ford one time use plastic oil pans. And the 2 day job to replace them.

 

[Bighorn2500]

My Uncle’s F-150 Ecoboost composite/molded/whatever it is, oil pan has been replaced twice under his extended warranty due it warping and leaking. All he does is primarily highway miles, the under oil pan catch textile cloth like material thing was replaced under warranty as well.

 

[CKN]

I'd rather keep my plastic straws and see way less plastic on anything I use.
The cheaper plastic pans are for the manufacture to make $ on, not to pass on those savings to us.
Now lets talk about the Ford one time use plastic oil pans. And the 2 day job to replace them.

Ford's quality control is beyond terrible. We all know that.

https://www.torquenews.com/3769/third-year-ford-has-set-nations-vehicle-recall-record

 

[daniel327]

Just a few days ago I changed the engine mounts on my Toyota using a pair of chassis stands and a floor jack. This task would have been impossible if my vehicle had a composite oil pan.

 

[Skippy722]

I agree. I am perfectly fine with composite valve covers and intakes. OIl pan I still think is a poor idea. They fail catastrophically (crack) rather than dent.

My mother cracked the cast aluminum pan on one of the cars they used to have… gimme a steel pan thank you very much.

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

+1
BMW's plastic cooling system components are some of the most durable on the market.

Forget the <sarcasm>,?

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

Aluminum pans aren't significantly. Drain plugs will eventually strip the threads of the pan.

BMW after temporarily improving coolant system plastic connector reliability over the last decade appears to have regressed again.

I spent $350 for a new valve cover at 50k miles when I replaced the VCG because I didn't want to pay a shop to have to replace the cover at 75k miles due to a crack. I now have a free valve cover once my gasket starts to leak again.

Two sections of the plastic intake system broke 3-4 yrs ago.

I wonder to what degree the automakers have with regards to durability for these types of parts. Can they specify cheaper materials with reduced durability?

 

[CKN]

Aluminum pans aren't significantly. Drain plugs will eventually strip the threads of the pan.

BMW after temporarily improving coolant system plastic connector reliability over the last decade appears to have regressed again.

I spent $350 for a new valve cover at 50k miles when I replaced the VCG because I didn't want to pay a shop to have to replace the cover at 75k miles due to a crack. I now have a free valve cover once my gasket starts to leak again.

Two sections of the plastic intake system broke 3-4 yrs ago.

I wonder to what degree the automakers have with regards to durability for these types of parts. Can they specify cheaper materials with reduced durability?

My son is trying to keep a 20 year old BMW on the road. It's really a fun car to drive. He does most repairs himself. Parts are very costly-availability of parts depends on how frequent they break. Window regulators are available-other parts are not.

 

[mnmarlin]

When I saw that my 22 Chevy Blazer had a composite oil pan with a plastic drain plug I was somewhat dismayed, but then I thought well at least it won't rust through!