Changing Oil Pan Gasket

Just took my 90 Lesabre Limited for an oil change. The tech said that oil pan gasket is leaking significantly. He said that the engine will probably need to taken out to change it. He then hands me his cousin's card and says he can do this for me. I kindly take the card and go home to have a look at the repair manual to see if this true. No mention of having to remove the engine. The gasket is around $20. I figure I'll attempt it in a few weeks. If anyone has changed this any tips would be appreciated. I would like to get the best gasket so I don't have to this again, considering the age of the car. Mileage is 345 000 km (Canadian eh!). Reminds me of driving a comfy couch!

I would have someone else look at the pan before you change it. Are there oil marks on you drive way? To me it sounds like the oil tech guy is running a scam with his cousin eh!

I removed the oil pan on my '91 as a part of repairing a cam sensor magnet problem. It is easy to do - you don't have to remove the engine!!! (maybe your oil change tech was thinking of other engines that have a crossmember underneath the oil pan, where you may need to support the engine and remove the crossmember in order to drop the pan). Make sure you get some RTV sealant when you get the gasket; there are a few places (seams between block and timing cover, etc.) where you will need it.

Funny thing. I felt there was a little more oil on my oil pan than there should be recently. I lost about a quart of oil every 3000 miles, but that was considered normal when I started repairing cars.

Anyway... the pan gasket for my '95 is like... $38. So.... I elected to find a cheaper solution as there really wasn't cause to replace the gasket. (Well... beyond that fact that I just get some sick enjoyment out of disassembing my car for little to no reason.)

Got out my torque wrench and checked the torque on the pan bolts. Every single one of the needed 1-3 full turns... I'm thinking that might of been why my oil pan always had oil on it.