1. Jack the Jeep as high as you are comfortable jacking. Even then, it will still be tight under there.
2. use a big 4x8 piece of "core plas" plastic cardboad to work on. Buy it at Lowes, about 15 bucks, and it is re usable. Ive had mine for over a year. It keeps oil of the driveway, lets you slide around easier, and wipes clean.
3. Take the track bar off. It lets a bit more droop in the axle, and gives a bit more access to the front area of the pan.
4. You may have to bend the blue alignment pins just a bit to get the pan to slip past the exhaust pipe. (If you left it connected)
5.The little blue oil pan alignment pins "can" break off! But the come out easily with an "easy out" . !!
6.Four hands makes the oil pan re-install 10 times easier.
7.Wash the underside of the Jeep before you start. I have a small electric power washer and it did a goof job. As always, use common sense as to where you spray.
8. Park the Jeep and jack it and jack stand it in the spot you are going to work for at least a day. I did mine for a week and had NO oil drips from the motor after the pan was removed.
9. Patience. This is a solid two day job for an old guy with a bad shoulder. I took multiple breaks, (over two weekends) and washed my hands and tools frequently to avoid frustration.

I find that washing my hands, cleaning my tools and putting them back in the box, and sometimes even changing in to fresh clothes really helps to keep the frustration level low.

 

Especially this part. Nearly every time my frustration/stubbornness with an exhaust stud, motor mount, suspension component or other "uncooperative" part got the better of me, things ended badly.

I'll admit, I get as much satisfaction cleaning my tools and workspace once the job's done successfully, as I do finishing the job.

Well done!!

 

"washing my hands"

This will probably cause some sort of storm but wear gloves.

For decades, including when I did this stuff for a living, I didn't. Then a decade or two ago I finally grew up and started wearing gloves.
If you get the right ones , not the junk harbor freight sells, they last ( I just replaced the rear springs and used one pair).

Not only do they keep your hands clean but they keep you from absorbing nasty toxins and do prevent minor dings and cuts
I get mine from the local coal miners supply store.

Edit: and yes, I've had people say" I can't work on stuff if I wear gloves" Good thing no one has told surgeons that 😉

 

I wear gloves for some projects, and not for some others. I coat my hands with Vaseline, work it in really well, seals the pores and helps to prevent the grease and oil from "soaking in". and keep a clean rag handy. But gloves all the time would be best, but so would not drinking whiskey, but some things I just do it any way🤓

 

Yes, I find myself wearing something similar to Mechanix brand gloves with knuckle guards. If I have to go by "feel" then I wear disposable gloves because regular gloves are so thick, it throws off the "feel" part. Orange dotted Gloveworks gloves. Love them!



Just out of curiosity, what do you use to clean your tools? I'm always up for listening to something that could possibly be better than what I do now!

I wholeheartedly agree with point 7. When I did this job on my current XJ, I had quarter size mounds of dirt and mud falling all over me.

​​​​​​​I've found that this job is a lot easier with a lifted Jeep.