well these have 2 oil pans, a lower and an upper. if its touching the block its the upper pan. you can replace it but most of the time it just needs to be resealed. and to do the upper pan you have to unbolt the engine mount and jack up the engine. its a PIA to do the upper one. lower one is cake.

 

Welcome to the X... and Let the Mod's begin.. sounds like you got a rough start!.

Been thar done it... easy to Repair I fixed mine in the woods with 10mm Socket( I think was the size), Screwdriver, some black gasket Goo.. and lots of cussing and standing near a hot fire to dry off.

Once, I got back to the Concrete world. I bought a Shrock engine Skid Plate. Now, oil pan is protected with 3/16" steel plate. The xterra's oil pan design is Crap.. The Person who thought to put it exposed should have been beat with a large stick!!.

the Info: with photo's for yea: http://www.thenewx.org/forum/showthread.php?t=21926&highlight=Oil+pan+Rock



Cost for new pan.. Just peeked.. Guessing on your X $92 bucks. He is vendor on this site..

Linky; http://www.nissanonlineparts.com/storename/cherryhillnissan/ViewDept-250249.aspx

Just Verify your Model,Year,Trim.
The part Linky: http://www.trademotion.com/parts/20...AN/XTERRA/SE/?siteid=214991&vehicleid=1433007&diagram=3637145&diagramCallOut=15

 

Just FYI the photo that CHUG posted is the the lower oil pan.

 

OOp's, The one most exposed part to being crushed/damaged.

 

ya i have a dent on mine. owner before me was stump jumpin

 

Thanks a ton for all the quick replies everyone!!! glad this isnt a "rare" thing... the odd deal is, theres a fist sized dent in the pan... but it seemed to be leaking thru the seam between the black lower pan and the deal right above it upper pan??? does that seem weird? I dont see how I could have damaged the upper section, but Im confused why it would be leaking in between the 2 sections when the dent is on the lower side. Was an awesome night, this happened around midnight... called my buddy with a tow truck, he got stuck 3 times, called a different buddy who came out in his Cummins, pulled the tow truck out, pulled me out to the paved road, loaded xterra onto tow truck (sad sight) and rolled home!!!! good thing I have my own Cummins sitting in the driveway!!!

 

if it does leak thats exactly where it will leak from. the seal is only RTV so any good "shift" or movement in the pan will break the seal and cause it to leak.

 

Do you guys recommend replacing the pan or just pulling it apart, clean and re seal?

 

after pulling it all apart, looks like the pick up tube is damaged too, ordered pan and tube... what a terrible design!!! skid plate to come asap!

 

Sadly that's one down side to the aluminum engine. Ford engines have a lower half of the block that covers the crank but a regular pan. I understand about using them for weight restriction but I still prefer cast iron over it. You can do way more with cast iron then aluminum any day!

 

Sure is crap. As with Thin metal design. Least, now you will have new Pan & Pick-up tube. While your inside it, whip it all down good.

Skid plate is a must for all Xterra owners, if they leave the Pavement.

 

Just make sure that you get a real skid plate and not that junk that Nissan calls a skid plate. If you want to go with Nissan than save the money and stick some cardboard up there and call it good cuz that's about how good their plates are. I wish that they would make their skid plates like Jeep does. They are real nice and thick and can take a beating!

 

anyone order from these guys????....http://www.trademotion.com/partlocator/index.cfm?siteid=214991]... seems like they take awhile to ship, and dont update shipping info at all!!!!