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I need to replace the oil pan in my Jeep Grand Cherokee. The Factory Service Manual said to loosen the engine mount bolts and lift the engine a few inches. It also has an illustration of the engine hoist connected to the engine lift bolt on the front of the engine block. I have rented the engine hoist. The illustration is attached/below:
Question – is that engine lift bolt on the front of the engine block strong enough to support lifting the engine a few inches?
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Is the engine hanger you rented strong enough to lift the engine? Is the hanger’s threaded screw strong enough to lift the engine? The instructions for the hanger I own say not to use the screws for lifting, only for hanging. Is the cable/chain/hook on the hanger strong enough to lift the engine?
The service manual is written by engineers. Sometimes there are mistakes. Otherwise, if you have the correct bolt I’d expect it to be strong enough. However, you are the person there, it is your hands that will be exposed if the thing drops. You gotta decide.
Anyway, I’ve done a lot of automotive work and I still have all my fingers intact. This comes from being a coward when things don’t look completely safe.
[quote=”RCS1300″ post=107848]I
Question – is that engine lift bolt on the front of the engine block strong enough to support lifting the engine a few inches?[/quote]Without knowing the specifics of your application, I can only answer in general. A grade 8 bolt would have no trouble supporting the weight of an engine. A 3/8 diameter grade 8 bolt has a working load limit of around 1,000 lbs. Something like a 5/8 or 3/4 could lift you entire Jeep off the ground.
[quote=”barneyb” post=107901]
The service manual is written by engineers.[/quote]That’s generally not the case. Technical writers (who are usually not trained engineers) write service manuals. With a little input from engineering when required. And even more input from the legal and finance departments tossed in.
The bolt takes a 1/2 inch washer and nut so I imagine it can support between 1,000 lbs and 2,300 lbs. Based on that information, it should be fine.
[quote=”barneyb” post=107901]…you are the person there, it is your hands that will be exposed if the thing drops. You gotta decide.
Anyway, I’ve done a lot of automotive work and I still have all my fingers intact. This comes from being a coward when things don’t look completely safe.[/quote]
Good point. I plan to use the engine hoist rated at 1,500 lbs to raise the engine about 2-3 inches. As a precaution, I will put small 2″x 4″ wooden blocks between the engine and the frame on both sides of the engine and then slightly lower the engine onto the wooden blocks and use the hoist as a back-up safety.
Wooden blocks – good idea. Not all wood is created the same these days. Use something that won’t become toothpicks when needed.
Look for a good bracket on the front of the engine or sometimes you may even find a loop or other item that is used to lift the engine from the vehicle. I normally don’t like to use bolts to hold an engine up. I have however used an old seat belt to tie around areas on an engine to lift it. In fact, that’s what I do in this series.
Good luck and keep us posted.
I definitely understand Eric’s reluctance at using bolts. But typically the bolt isn’t the weak link in the chain. It’s was the bolt is threaded into. For that reason, I have never been a fan of lifting engines by the intake manifold for example. Most engines have some sort of bracket that connects to the head or block, that was either specifically designed (or can be reasonably re-appropriated) for the task of hoisting the engine.
As far as using seat belts as hoisting slings go, I have seen it done many times with great success. My personal reluctance to do this myself is due to the fact that a) I have a set of nylon slings designed specifically for hoisting b)I am certified to inspect said slings before each use.
Regardless of how you pull the engine… double, triple, and quadruple check that everything is disconnected and that your movement path is clear. You would be amazed at the tensile strength of a forgotten loom of wiring harness.
Good luck.
[quote=”EricTheCarGuy” post=108070]Look for a good bracket on the front of the engine or sometimes you may even find a loop or other item that is used to lift the engine from the vehicle. I normally don’t like to use bolts to hold an engine up. I have however used an old seat belt to tie around areas on an engine to lift it. In fact, that’s what I do in this series.
Good luck and keep us posted.[/quote]
I saw the series and thought about a seat belt. Unfortunately, a seat belt is problematic because I plan to change the oil pan as part of this process.
I decided to purchase the Miller Special Tool (got it on ebay) specifically designed to lift the engine. Don’t want to take any chances with the fuel rail and other parts that will be on the engine when I lift it a few inches. This special tool fixes to the engine with three bolts. Picture attached.
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