[Petah78]

Originally Posted by Ultramaroon

Surface prep
surface prep
surface prep....

There is no substitute for the factory-prepped virgin mating surfaces before filling with oil. If being re-sealed, great care must be taken, not only to remove all the old stuff. The surfaces above must also be cleaned enough to ensure no oil weeps down to contaminate the joint before it is fully cured.

The devil is very much in the details. Personally, I wouldn't consider doing this job with the engine in place. I would only do it with the engine inverted on a stand, but that's just me.

110% agree, the car in the original state is always the best. However, while not ideal, resealing an engine during service is done all the time. I would much rather have a free flowing pick up than a seeping oil pan that i can reseal myself afterwards.

Having said that, there is a degree of "gamble" regardless of the action you take so i am not advocating anything here.