Engine Killer

[Quicksilver]

Plan on getting a skid plate before the season starts. When you remove an oval cover plate beneath the engine oilpan you will see two 1" long X 1/2" wide legs on the cast oilpan pointed down. I spotted an oil leak on a friends RX-1 and removed the cover. One of the legs were cracked at the base of the oilpan! The cover shield had a dent in it from hitting something but the shield had nothing really major for damage! I can't understand why Yamaha would design the pan this way? Hit a rock/stump/something and you'll be visiting service real soon. I think I'll cut off 1/2" or more with a grinder or cutoff tool and get a skid plate.

 

[SumpBuster]

Quicksilver...check out my post on page 2 'Cheap Insurance (not the kind you think). I lost an engine (bottom end) last year. Same thing. Protector may not be enough on direct hit.

 

[Quicksilver]

I'm pretty sure a protector won't be enough. The gap between the cover panel and the legs on the oilpan must be pretty tight. I'll trim mine back 1/2"

 

[Snomad]

Do you mean trimming back the posts 1/2" by cutting or grinding? Are they solid that far up to the pan? When I was installing the frame nuts required to mount the skid plate I noticed these studs as well and thought that it definitely needed the plate. Let us know how your grinding goes.

 

[vcrash]

DONT CUT,hope we stopped you in time, check out sumpbusteres post

 

[Quicksilver]

Haven't cut yet but i'm curious what purpose they serve. It seems like a real weak point. If they are there to protect the sump it's done nothing than added multiple targets that are quite sensitive to impact.

 

[SumpBuster]

I believe the legs are there for fixturing point during assembly, as the pan sits perfectly flat on these, and the rear two have flat surfaces that could be used for positioning. Why the front two have holes is unknown...it costs more money for a mold with cores to form these..they seem too small for any cooling purposes too... :?: