In middle of oil pick up replacement and all bolts off sump (including gearbox bolts and flexi oil pipe). So how do you really get the sump off, as hitting it with a rubber mallet is not not doing anything and unfortunately i haven't the strength of Thor to strike it any harder.

I guess i will need to try and pry it off, but an hoping a few folks here have done it and can give a few tips, as i don't want to damage it.

have you got the 2 or 3 that are flywheel end up inside the recess?

once there all out a good tap with a rubber mallet usually does it.

failing that a small pry bar the bottom pulley end will work, that way you will see if you have all of them out at the flywheel end.

yes all bolts out, even those really annoying ones that i had to spend a fiver getting a tee handle 5mm ball end hex tool to remove.

Thanks for the tip on prying.

Now it's pouring with rain

the other thing you can do is remove the sump plug and insert a long screwdriver in there and lever it from there instead.. but dont chew up the thread

Sump now off. There was one section where it needed a firmer strke to break the seal.

2 things

1) Really surprised with the state of the pick up pipe. At first i thought it was clean and on closer inspection about 80% of the metal filter was actually blocked. My car has only 91k and full history, so i would strongly echo earlier posts to just get it done at your next oil service, or even bring it forward a bit for peace of mind.

2) I now have a sump that i want to clean up. I used liquid oven cleaner. Seems to work pretty well. Sump is full of tiny hairline cracks though. Doesn't leak however, but wonder whether it will need replacing at some point?

Isnt it funny tho as I did mine at the weekend and my pickup pipe was extreamly clean to say its done 101K and only been serviced on the 20k variable service, granted the last 3 0r 4 were done by me and with Quantum III oil every time.

Also my sump poped off just by tapping it and then pushing on it with my hand. sounds like yours might of been done before and they used too much sealant?

It also might be down to the way the cars are driven and the length of the travels? mine never really drives less than 20 mile at a time so its got lots of time to circulate and get hot, I also dont drive it hard that often, mostly cruise is on so that could help?

Dont see how there could be cracks in it tho? are you sure they are just not machine marks that oil is stuck on?

Sump now off. There was one section where it needed a firmer strke to break the seal.

2 things

1) Really surprised with the state of the pick up pipe. At first i thought it was clean and on closer inspection about 80% of the metal filter was actually blocked. My car has only 91k and full history, so i would strongly echo earlier posts to just get it done at your next oil service, or even bring it forward a bit for peace of mind.

2) I now have a sump that i want to clean up. I used liquid oven cleaner. Seems to work pretty well. Sump is full of tiny hairline cracks though. Doesn't leak however, but wonder whether it will need replacing at some point?

Mine is like this. Hairline cracks all over, wondered if I had done it when hitting with a rubber mallet... Hard! until I realized I had left a bolt in . Seems ok at the moment.

This is a job I must get around to doing, only changed the oil about 6 weeks ago but would like to change it again soon as the old oil was like thick black treacle so would make sense to change the pick up pipe at the same time - does anyone know the part numbers I'd need for my Octi?

It also might be down to the way the cars are driven and the length of the travels? mine never really drives less than 20 mile at a time so its got lots of time to circulate and get hot, I also dont drive it hard that often, mostly cruise is on so that could help?

Dont see how there could be cracks in it tho? are you sure they are just not machine marks that oil is stuck on?

Very true and you never really know how the car has been driven before you owned it, unless you've had it from new. For an extra £10 it is worth doing if just for peace of mind. Not really that easy a job though IMHO. Over 20 bolts in all, some hard to get to, and a couple of mine seemed to be cross threaded, also getting the right amount of sealant on without any gaps isn't as easy as it first seems. I had a slight leak after the engine warmed up and i dreaded the worst (that i had somehow not sealed correctly or disturbed a bit whilst raising the oil pan into the correct position). Got back under the car and noticed that i had left the filter a little loose, so tightened a further 1/4 turn, so am hoping it was that. :(

Cracks are genuine though, when i brushed my fingers across the oil pan surface when cleaning it, it was rough over each crack where the metal pan surface had broken slightly (no shards or anything). I guess it cracks like this from minor impacts.

Cracks are genuine though, when i brushed my fingers across the oil pan surface when cleaning it, it was rough over each crack where the metal pan surface had broken slightly (no shards or anything). I guess it cracks like this from minor impacts.

Yeah! like smashing the cr4p out of it, with a club hammer, when it wont come off!

It has the makings of a comedy scene. I can't get the image out of my head.

Mine had no cracks or anything in it. Could be hitting it with the hammer.

If you use the OE stuff to seal it you get a nozzle and you only need a very small beading round it. If you look at Bowders1 how to guide, I didn't use anywhere near that much.

Billy

If you use the OE stuff to seal it you get a nozzle and you only need a very small beading round it. If you look at Bowders1 how to guide, I didn't use anywhere near that much.

Billy

Yeah, i reckon half his sump is full of silicon now.

VW workshop manual suggest 3mm bead, and used this red RTV stuff. Pan didn't got straight on though as oil flexi pipe got in the way, so i'll find out tomorrow whether the seal was messed up when i check the driveway.

Yeah, i reckon half his sump is full of silicon now.

Hey what this pick on bowders......

I used a 4mm bead and made sure it was towards the edge of sump. If i look under car i can see it is nicely sealed with the black stuff evenly squezzed outwards around the sump.

Hey what this pick on bowders......

I used a 4mm bead and made sure it was towards the edge of sump. If i look under car i can see it is nicely sealed with the black stuff evenly squezzed outwards around the sump.

Sorry Mark,

Wasnt picking on you mate, just saying I didnt use as much as you. Pos 2-3mm of the white stuff I got from TPS. I have a nice little bead of it on the outside of the sump and I suspect there is one on the inside too. I waited 20-30 mins with the plug and cap off before refilling the sump so I hope it waws all dry.

Hey what this pick on bowders......

And stop keep doing these really really useful guides. It's costing me money.