Cautionary tale from early CIH engine trivia question

[tekenaar]

There's a word of CAUTION offered in the answer to this trivia question:

What is unique about the early CIH aluminum oil pan with the dipstick on the passenger's side?


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First, the pan's capacity is 3 quarts without filter, but that's not what's unique. The space between this pan's dipstick marks measures 1.5 quarts . . . HALF the pan's total capacity and unlike all the other dipsticks' one quart measurement.

[tekenaar]

Otto,
My '70 Kadett has the dipstick on the passenger side, w/1.9L. Does that mean it also has the aluminum oil pan, or is it only the dipstick that would be unique?

AFAIK, all CIH engines with the dipstick on the passenger side share this type early aluminum pan and use the same unique 1.5 quart "between the marks" dipstick. Don't believe the CIH engines ever had a steel pan with a passenger side dipstick. Matter of fact, I believe all CIH steel pans used an "in-block", driver-side dipstick. The "driver-side dipstick" aluminum pan had an extra boss cast in it for a steel dipstick tube, and had the in-block hole plugged with an aluminum plug.

To confuse things even more, all these pans use different type and length dipsticks. The in-block dipstick also requires an in-pan tube to guide dipstick around the crank counter weights. Thoroughly confused now?

[simplemind7]

Matter of fact, I believe all CIH steel pans used an "in-block", driver-side dipstick.

does this mean you can't get a steel oil pan with the dipstick attached to the pan, not the block? because... mine doesn't go through the block, just wondering if there is something else that's weird about my car

[tekenaar]

does this mean you can't get a steel oil pan with the dipstick attached to the pan, not the block? because... mine doesn't go through the block, just wondering if there is something else that's weird about my car

If dipstick is on driver's side and doesn't go in the block, it's probably an aluminum pan with the dipstick tube mounted in cast-in boss.

[simplemind7]

i don't know if i misread something a while ago, but didn't all the aluminum pans have fins? mine doesn't...

[jordan]

Not all of them did, I believe it was a dealer option or possibly later mantas had them.

[GTJIM]

Rather than cooling fins, I suspect that the "fins" on the front of some alloy pans are there merely to strengthen the front of the pan and ensure they seal at the front gasket ........ How's that for a hypothesis??
A section out of a Jaguar alloy "winged" pan would weld on to the Opel alloy pan quite nicely - and dramatically increase capacity. Pitty I only have one Jag pan.....

[greensmurf20]

the finned ali pans came on the manta rallyes from the factory. the fins are supposed to help dissepate heat from the oil to have cooler oil temps.

[soybean]

Jared, isn't yours a 72? My 74 Rallye came with a steel pan and I have 2 of 6 engines/transmissions that came out of other 74s, that have the steel pan. One is like Ottos first post, the others are like post nos. 4. Jarrell

[tekenaar]

Jared, isn't yours a 72? My 74 Rallye came with a steel pan and I have 2 of 6 engines/transmissions that came out of other 74s, that have the steel pan. One is like Ottos first post, the others are like post nos. 4. Jarrell

True. Alu pans with steel dipstick tube on driver's side was later version used on Rallyes and had fins toward front of pan, early pan with hole for dipstick on passenger's side had no fins, smooth as a baby's behind.