Is it difficult to remove the oil pan from a 2000 dodge stratus

Oil pan removal
1. Disconnect negative cable from battery.

2. Raise vehicle on hoist.

3. Drain engine oil and remove oil filter.

4. Remove oil filter adaptor from engine block

5. Remove structural collar

6. Remove lateral bending brace.

7. Remove transaxle dust cover.

8. Remove oil pan bolts.

9. Remove oil pan.

If i remember right you have to un do the bolts from the exhaust pipe to the catalytic converter theirs two the pipe splits out to each one and they are in the way... first id drain the oil pan...your also gonna have to remove the oil filter too....its on the back side and blocks the way of the bolts......it was a pain on a 06...

To get the oil pan off of your 2003 Dodge Stratus 2.7L engine, you must remove the following:
> Engine oil dipstick and tube
> Engine oil filter
> Structural collar (metal plate that bolts on the bottom between the oil pan and transmission housing)
> Exhaust cross-under pipe
> Torque converter housing cover
> The lower bolt attaching the A/C compressor to the oil pan
> Oil pan fasteners, Oil pan and gasket
Please note that attempting to remove the exhaust cross-under pipe can be a real challenge if you do not have the equipment to heat the nuts/studs that fasten it to the manifolds.
Non-availability of the required equipment in this case may mean that you will have to remove the exhaust manifold(s) to drill out broken studs.

if there is a bracket in the way, and a mount, then yes, it has to come off. Why are you removing the pan? These 2.4L engines have many problems.

Hope this helps and please don't forget to rate!

1. Disconnect the negative battery cable.
   
2. Remove the engine oil dipstick and tube.
   
3. Raise and safely support the vehicle.
   
4. Drain the engine oil and remove the oil filter.
   
5. Remove the structural collar.
   
6. Remove the exhaust cross-under pipe.
   
7. Remove the torque converter housing cover.
   
8. Remove the lower bolt attaching the A/C compressor to the oil pan.
   

WARNING!!!!!
Be sure to remove the 2 bolts attaching the timing cover to the oil pan, as damage to the timing cover and/or oil pan may occur.

1. Remove the oil pan attaching fasteners.
   
2. Remove the oil pan and gasket.
   

First remove the coolant over flow reservoir, remove the heater core pipes that ran across the mount by taking two 10mm bolt that hold the pipe, one bolt by a/c compressor and the other behind power steering pump for easy access to remove mount,Above the wheel by the fire wall two bolts (15mm) hold the mount from the bottom remove them,support engine with floor jack at oil pan, use piece of board between jack and oil pan so no damge acured to oil pan, then remove upper three bolts(15mm) that hold mount, this should help you get that mount out, its a very tight spot hopw this helps.

1. Disconnect battery negative cable.
2. Remove air cleaner.
3. Remove upper fail shroud (V8)
4. Raise vehicle and drain oil pan.
5. Disconnect A.I.R. hose at converter pipe (V8)
6. Disconnect A.I.R. pipe at exhaust manifold (V8)
7. Remove exhaust crossover pipe at manifold and converter.
8. Remove starter.
9. Remove flywheel cover.
10. Disconnect transmission oil cooler lines at oil pan.
11. Remove engine mount 'through' bolts on V8. Loosen right bolt and remove left on V6.
12. Remove oil pan bolts and lower oil pan. Check that forward crankshaft throw and/or counter balance weight are not extending downward so to block oil pan removal. Turn crankshaft, necessary, to put throw on horizontal plane.
13. Raise engine.
14. Remove oil pan.

Installation

1. Clean sealing surfaces on cylinder case and pan.
2. Check oil pan gasket for damage; replace if necessary.
3. Apply a small amount of 1052751 or equivalent to front and rear corners of oil pan.

NOTICE: Only a small amount of sealant is required. Excessive amounts of sealant may cause a problem with proper sealing of oil pan.

1. Install retaining bolts and torque to 9 N.m (80 lb. in.).
2. Raise engine, if necessary.
3. Lower engine, install mount 'through' bolts and torque to 50 lb. ft. (65 N.m).
4. Install torque converter cover.
5. Install starter.
6. Install exhaust crossover pipe at manifold and converter.
7. Lower vehicle.
8. Install fan shroud.
9. Install air cleaner.
10. Fill crankcase with oil.
11. Connect battery negative cable, start engine and check for leaks.

Changing the oil pan gasket on a GMC Yukon XL is realtively simple, but does require removal of the exhaust pipe. You will need a new oil pan gasket and a new exhaust pipe flange gasket.
Put the car on ramps or jacks to access the undercarriage.
Remove the exhaust pipe by removing the 3 nuts holding the exhaust pipe flange to the exhaust manifold. These nuts often rust and prior application of penetrating oil may be required to remove them without damage. Once the pipe is unbolted, work the exhaust system loose from the hanging brackets. In most cases the entire system does not have to be removed since there is enough room to remove the pan with only the front hangers removed.
Drain the oil from the engine
Remove the 10 mm bolts holding the pan to the block.
Remove the old gasket material and scrape any remaining gasket from the block and pan.
Install the new gasket. Forma-Gasket or a similar product may be used in small quantities to "glue" the new gasket in place and prevent shifting while the pan is reattached to the block.
Reinsall the 10 mm bolts in a cross pattern to ensure the gasket is compressed evenly. Do not overtighten the bolts.
Replace the pipe to flange gasket between the exhaust pipe and the exhaust manifold with a new part.
Reattach the exhuast pipe to the hangers.
Install the 3 bolts connecting the pipe flange to the exhaust manifold.
Fill the engine with oil.

Removal Procedure
1. Disconnect the negative battery cable.
2. Drain the engine oil from the engine crankcase.
3. Remove the exhaust flex pipe retaining nuts from
the exhaust manifold.
4. Remove the exhaust flex pipe retaining nuts from
the catalytic converter or the connecting pipe.
5. Remove the exhaust flex pipe.
6. Remove the oil pan flange–to–transaxle retaining
bolts.
7. Remove the oil pan retaining bolts.
8. Remove the oil pan from the engine block.
Cleaning Procedure
1. Clean the oil pan sealing surface.
2. Clean the engine block sealing surface.
3. Clean the oil pan retaining bolts.
4. Clean the oil pan attaching bolt holes in the engine
block.
5. Clean the oil pan scraper.
Installation Procedure
1. Coat the new oil pan gasket with sealant.
Important : Install the oil pan within 5 minutes after applying
the liquid gasket to the oil pan.
2. Install the oil pan to the engine block.
3. Install the oil pan retaining bolts.
Tighten
Tighten the oil pan retaining bolts to 10 NSm (89 lb–in).
4. Install the oil pan flange–to–transaxle retaining
bolts.
Tighten
Tighten the oil pan flange–to–transaxle bolts to 40
NSm (30 lb–ft).
5. Install the exhaust flex pipe.
6. Install the exhaust flex pipe retaining nuts to the
exhaust manifold.
Tighten
Tighten the exhaust flex pipe–to–exhaust manifold
retaining nuts to 35 NSm (26 lb–ft).
7. Install the exhaust flex pipe retaining nuts to the
catalytic converter or the connecting pipe.
Tighten
Tighten the exhaust flex pipe–to–catalytic converter
or connecting pipe retaining nuts to 35 NSm (26 lb–ft).
8. Connect the negative battery cable.
9. Install the oil pan drain plug.
Tighten
Tighten the oil pan drain plug to 35 NSm (26 lb–ft).
10. Refill the engine crankcase with engine oil.

The cat is located just off of the exhaust manifold. You have to remove things to get out of the way. Loosen down pipe to converter and unclamp the converter and it should pull right out. Use a good penetrating oil to help loosen the down pipe bolts.