Aluminum Hairline Fractures in Oil Pan

Hey Guys, I recently removed the oil pan from my bike and upon inspection I noticed many small fractures scattered throughout the inside. They resemble very old paint that is cracking. It doesn't look too serious (but what do I know, lol). I was just wondering if anyone had a similar experience because I planned on drilling the oil plug for a re-thread but now I am questioning the condition of the oil pan itself. If the pan is no good my only other option is to get another used pan off ebay, and that also looks kind of sketchy. I feel like I'm in between a rock and a hard place right now. I'll try to get a pic up ASAP of the pan.

They are probably just casting flaws, aluminum will get lines like that when it is cast,,, it doesn't leak any does it? The bottom of it probably looked about the same before it was finished and polished.

Post edited by: The Milkman, at: 2007/06/18 23:42

The Milkman wrote:

They are probably just casting flaws, aluminum will get lines like that when it is cast,,, it doesn't leak any does it? The bottom of it probably looked about the same before it was finished and polished.<br><br>Post edited by: The Milkman, at: 2007/06/18 23:42

Thanks for the reply Milkman. When I picked the bike up there were no oil leaks what so ever. I just wanted to make sure that it wasn't an early warning sign of headaches to come. Tomorrow morning I'll have a camera to upload some pics with so everyone can see the oil pan.

Don't worry about it. That's normal.
Mark

Guess I got all worked up over nothing. :blink: Here's a pic of the oil pan so future readers have a face to go with the name.

I have that on my pan to. Nothing to worry about. Heads crack before the oil pan and even cracks in the head are rare