Hi all, I have a 2003 DII with an oil leak(s) and am trying to find where it/they is/are coming from. Last night I sprayed engine cleaner under the truck and used a high-pressure sprayer to clean it all off. I couldn't figure out how to remove the black plastic/fiberglass access panel the covers the lower part of the engine and has the oil filter opening in it. I removed the round cover for the oil filter and use the sprayer to get up in there as best I could, but it would be helpful to take the entire cover off. I removed the 5 bolts/screws holding it on and tried to remove it, but all it would do is move back and forth and side to side a little.

Any help in getting this thing off would be greatly appreciated. Also, I noticed that my VIN falls in the range of potentially bad engine blocks and am hoping this leak is not a precursor to a failure.

Thanks,
Rich

 

After I remove the screws, mine pops out without much fuss. Maybe its just gummed up with dirt and oil?

 

I just removed mine yesterday. Did you remove the plastic fasteners at either end in the frame rails? I broke both in getting panel loose, but they are cheap to replace.

 

Once you have taken that cover off, throw it away, your engine will run cooler due to better air flow and it will then be easier to work on.

 

I agree with Mike. And if you plan to use the slightly larger K&N oil filters you have to cut a section out of the plastic panel anyway.

 

GET RID OF IT!!! NOW

 

I heard some say jack up frame, I jacked up drivers side just behind front wheel. The cover came right out slide it back toward rear and toward drivers side once over the front differential.

 

6 years....

 

as a moderator can't you lock or delete old threads or does the more primitive forum we use not support these features?

 

We can but it would be extremely time consuming.