What guru said is correct, this is also what the last oil change place told me. Unfortunately they couldnt do the oil change as the oil pan plug, gasket, oil drain and the oil pan itself needs to be replaced. Also unfortunate for me I have been going to different places for an oil change so I dont know who did it. Now, I am looking for parts to buy: oil pan, oil pan gasket, oil drain plug and gasket. All except for the oil pan is what I can find online, I wouldnt want to ask the dealer since I know they would mark it up so high. Any thoughts on where I can get an oil pan for a 6-cyl 3.8L engine, Mitsubishi Endeavor?

Whether it's an engine oil pan (called the 'sump'' in the UK) or a transmission oil pan the principle is the same on all vehicles.
1. Drain the oil

2. Remove the bolts holding the sump/pan in place:

The oil drain plug, though depending on your vehicle it may look different:
New gasket held in place with sealant
Use a blunt screwdriver -if needed - and prise the oil pan free. remove all traces of the old gasket from the mating surfaces.

Use a smear of sealant to hold the new gasket in the correct position on the pan - this will hold it in place when you refit the pan.

Push the pan into position and put in a front bolt finger-tight. Then put in a rear bolt finger-tight.

Putting in the bolts finger-tight allows you to gently 'move' the pan if needed to put the bolts in one at a time.

When all bolts are in, tighten them with a wrench/socket. Then check them all again for tightness.

It isn't actually a big job .. more 'messy' because of the oil.

YES if you look around you'll find a drain plug repair kit ,its a common problem but there's hope ,a universal fit repair kit ,and with a little knowhow most can do it in about an hour after you fully drain oil ,my question is why the people who did the damage are not paying for all the repairs ? if that's not an option then go with repair kit. hope this helped you ,good luck.
Woody

well let me see you have 4.6L engine you need 7.5 quarts of oil with new oil filter.to do the oil change you need large drain pan and oil filter wrench and a metric wrench to remove oil drain plug you need a funnel also.you need first start engine let it run for 5 minutes to warm up thin out the oil so it will flow better.once engine warm up.turn off the engine.open you hood.now safely raise support vechicle on jack stands make sure vechicle parked on solid level ground.place large drain pan under oil pan remove oil drain plug you need a 15m wrench remove drain plug let all old oil drain out until you see slow drip then reinstall oil drain plug dont over tighten drain bolt.then place drain pan under the oil filter then remove oil filter using oil filter wrench or large channel lock pliers.once you remove oil filter wipe oil filter seal surface with clean paper towel.take new oil filter add oil to new filter then install new oil filter hand tight take filter wrench turn oil filter one half more turn dont over tighten will damage oil filter seal.make sure oil pan drain plug is in place. then lower vechicle. remove oil filler cap on the valve cover add new oil to the engine using a funnel to keep from spilling oil all over the valve cover and exhaust manifold.add all 7.5 quarts to oil crank case wait until oil settle down in crank case check oil dip stick oil level should be at the full mark on oil dip stick.dont over fill crank case.once you finished oil level correct crank engine check for oil leaks at oil filter and oil drain plug. if engine running okay you see no oil warning lights you ready wheel and deal.

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Hi,

My name is Ben and I'm your guru, i.e., mentor, an influential teacher or popular expert: a management guru. - origin from Sanskrit, 'weighty, grave' for today.

Removing and replacing an oil pan gasket is a relatively easy task, even for a novice.

Please follow the instructions and you'll have no problem/

1. Raise the front of the vehicle at least two feet off the ground and support with jack stands.
2. Drain the oil from the oil pan.
3. Remove the oil level sensor connector.
4. Remove the oil pan retaining bolts.
5. Remove the oil pan.
6. Remove the oil pan gasket and discard. The gasket CANNOT be reversed.
7. Clean the oil pan and the cylinder blaock mating surfaces.
8. Install the new gasket to the oil pan flange.
9. Replace the bolts and torque to 124 lb. in.
10. Connect the oil level sensor.
11. Add the correct amount of oil.
12. Start the vehicle and check for leaks.

That's the entire process.

Ben

the story you are getting from the dealership sounds very strange. Contrary to what the dealer states the oil pan threads do not wear out over time or the quantity of oil changes. The oil pan threads will strip (be damaged) if the oil plug is tightened too much (too much torque is applied) when installing the plug.

On all cars and Mitsubushi's I have seen the oil pan plug is sealed from leaking oil with a metal or composite washer. The washer is installed on the plug and seals between the plug head and pan. The treads of the plug do not seal the pan as the washer serves this purpose. In most cases it is recommended this washer be replaced (a dollar or less) with every oil change but most people don’t. Have never seen a car that used only the treads to do the sealing.

It is possible someone has over tightened the plug at least once or many times leading the to the threads being stripped. If all your oil changes were at a dealer, then this damage was done by mechanics at the dealer. The other question is if the same dealer did your changes over a year (how many changes have been done?), why didn’t they bring this up before? Oil pan plugs do not just go bad, the pan threads fail because the plug is over tightened

but yes this is definetly possible in both the sense of the oil dran plug or the bolts that connect the oil pan to the engine block. Now if you mean the bolts that connect the oil pan to the engine block its only possible if the oil pan has been removed and someone put the bolt back in crossthreaded it or over tightened them. It couldnt so much happen from normal vibration, it would be a human error problem. and as for the drain plug that was covered above.
If you need further explanation on this problem please feel free to follow up with a comment and i will assist you from there. If this assisted you please feel free to rate it. Thanks, Midwest-tek

yes i have seen these break. unfortunately, i dont think you will ever get anyone to own up to breaking it. if you with to try and change it yourself, it is not a difficult repair. it comes as a kit from the dealer.

No drain plug, the filter is inside trans. Remove trans oil pan (it will be full of tran fluid so loosen bolts on one end and work your way to other end) May have to take bolts out of a cross member and slid it back to get to all the pan bolts. The filter is flat and you'll see it once the pan is dropped. Pull straight down to remove. Clean out sludge and old fluid from pan and scrape old gasket off.
Push new filter into place. Its a good idea to use gasket sealer to help keep it from leaking and to help hold gasket in place so bolt holes stay lined up while bolting up pan. Tighten all bolts evenly. Then refill tran with the fluid your service manual list. Operate your truck in all gears (shifting back and forth) and recheck trans fluid level. Its not a hard job to change filter and fluid. If you can change your own motor oil and have a rachet and sockets then you couldnt have any problems. Just get your filter and trans fluid from your local auto parts store like Autozone or Advance Auto Parts.

being age of vehicle not much could do, i would recommend the oversize drain plug which has a plug inside the bolt so dont keep taking out of oil pan

if the owner is the one going to change the oil pan , then the owner should locate the oil pan .Prepare the the equipment going to be used in changing the oil pan. First drain the oil or the engine oil that is in the oil pan. In draining, the owner of the car should twist the drain plug until it loose that the oil will spill on a can or to where the owner will place the engine oil.The oil pan is connected to the engine with the bolts . The owner have to twist the bolts until the oil pan is being place out of the engine . then replace the oil pan .Then the owner have to place back the bolt using the bolts to connect the oil pan to the engine twist the bolts again until the new oil pan is connected to the engine.Close or twist the drain plug until engine oil will not spill , Then refill or place engine oil to the engine. If the owner cannot do it then the owner have to go to a car mechanic to do the task or the job.

the oil pump pickup could have come off the oil pump, but u could fell it inside the pan through the drain plug, that is possible, but not very likely, try installing an aftermarket high volume oil pump, most are adjustable for either high volume or high press, you want volume.