joshterhaus
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- Jul 22, 2025
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- Buick Ownership
- 1999 Buick Century Limited
I hope this finds who it needs to before it's too late.
If you're planning to remove an oil pan for any reason on a century with a 3.1l, you will HAVE to drop the sub frame. If you reference factory directions for pan removal, there is no direction or reference to this. If you follow factory directions, you will find yourself 6 inches from being able to clear the oil pan from the subframe. I just learned this the hard way.
I'll post factory instructions on here and i'll incluude, in this post, my own an addendum in order to remove the pan.
When you've reached the final steps to remove pan (before you remove pan bolts), per factory instructions, make sure you have engine hoisted from above, either with a cherry picker or an engine cross bar. Perform these steps next:
1. Unbolt both brake calipers, suspend on strut assembly springs.
2. Unbolt and remove both tie rod ends from knuckles.
3. Unbolt both lower strut mounting bolts from knuckles.
4. Unbolt both CV axles and remove from knuckles. Leave cv axles in the transmission.
5. Unbolt power steering rack, but leave intermediate shaft and lines connected. Suspend rack with tie straps or bungee cords. I connected bungee cords to the tie rod ends and hooked them to the strut towers.
6. Disconnect both front abs sensor wires where they disconnect at the end of the control arms.
7. Unplug harness connector to differential, a/c compressor, oil level sensor (as stated in factory manual), and oil pressure sensor. The purpose of this is to give yourself plenty of slack in the wire loom so you're not fighting it while removing pan.
8. Place floor jacks, pole jacks, or any jack that can be moved up and down under the four corners of the sub frame. Tighten jacks so that weight is relieved from the sub frame bushings.
9. Lossen subframe bushing bolts one at a time, making sure that weight is distributed evenly as you bring it down. Once sub frame is about 8 inches to 1 foot lower than original height, proceed with removing pan.
Yes, this is a lot of steps. No, the factory manual does not state that these steps are necessary. Yes, you will spend excess time trying to remove the pan if you don't drop the sub frame. Ask me how I know, hahaha.
I may be missing a couple small steps in this process, but if you follow this guide, you should be able to clear the pan from the subframe with no issue.
Good luck!
If you're planning to remove an oil pan for any reason on a century with a 3.1l, you will HAVE to drop the sub frame. If you reference factory directions for pan removal, there is no direction or reference to this. If you follow factory directions, you will find yourself 6 inches from being able to clear the oil pan from the subframe. I just learned this the hard way.
I'll post factory instructions on here and i'll incluude, in this post, my own an addendum in order to remove the pan.
When you've reached the final steps to remove pan (before you remove pan bolts), per factory instructions, make sure you have engine hoisted from above, either with a cherry picker or an engine cross bar. Perform these steps next:
1. Unbolt both brake calipers, suspend on strut assembly springs.
2. Unbolt and remove both tie rod ends from knuckles.
3. Unbolt both lower strut mounting bolts from knuckles.
4. Unbolt both CV axles and remove from knuckles. Leave cv axles in the transmission.
5. Unbolt power steering rack, but leave intermediate shaft and lines connected. Suspend rack with tie straps or bungee cords. I connected bungee cords to the tie rod ends and hooked them to the strut towers.
6. Disconnect both front abs sensor wires where they disconnect at the end of the control arms.
7. Unplug harness connector to differential, a/c compressor, oil level sensor (as stated in factory manual), and oil pressure sensor. The purpose of this is to give yourself plenty of slack in the wire loom so you're not fighting it while removing pan.
8. Place floor jacks, pole jacks, or any jack that can be moved up and down under the four corners of the sub frame. Tighten jacks so that weight is relieved from the sub frame bushings.
9. Lossen subframe bushing bolts one at a time, making sure that weight is distributed evenly as you bring it down. Once sub frame is about 8 inches to 1 foot lower than original height, proceed with removing pan.
Yes, this is a lot of steps. No, the factory manual does not state that these steps are necessary. Yes, you will spend excess time trying to remove the pan if you don't drop the sub frame. Ask me how I know, hahaha.
I may be missing a couple small steps in this process, but if you follow this guide, you should be able to clear the pan from the subframe with no issue.
Good luck!
