Exhaust pipe clearance on oil pan: How close is too close?
 

I've noticed my downpipe is pretty damned close to my oil pan. There's probably only about 1/8" of clearance between the two, if that. I was thinking about it when driving for 30 minutes straight in soft sand this past weekend, conditions under which I'm sure it's heating up the side of the oil pan quite a bit. I don't think it's making contact, but it's gotta be putting a lot of heat on that oil pan. With that coating of mud, it's hard to see if the paint on the pan is bubbling. Hell, maybe the mud is a good insulator and I should leave it on there.

Is there anything I should be concerned about here, or are there any fixes aside from loosening the manifold/header flange bolts and trying to pry it away from the pan before tightening it back up? I could try heat wrap on those few inches of downpipe, but I've heard horror stories about that stuff trapping moisture and causing rust on the pipe.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...468c1d49a7.jpg

I wouldn't worry about it.

Its fine.

You wouldnt be able to pry it away those things are stiff. Either the pipe or the pan would cave in before the pipe would bend away

What year, what engine? That is very close, likely not correct, but the closeness should not harm anything so long as it cant touch. if they touch, then vibration will like wear a hole in one or both.
Your oxygen sensor is located about 90 degrees around the pipe from that is on my 1990 inline six.

'98 with the 4.0. It sounds like I shouldn't worry about it. One of these days I need to replace my cracked exhaust manifold, so perhaps when I bolt up the new header the clearance will be better.