So you just picked up a Two Step Performance x Wunderladen Racing Oil Pan Baffle for your 2022+ Honda Civic 1.5T / 2023+ Acura Integra 1.5T, but aren’t sure how to install the baffle. Or, maybe you want to buy this baffle, but want to know how in depth this installation is. We’ve got you.
You will need to determine if you want to purchase a new oil pan or use your existing oil pan. I’d recommend just using your existing oil pan so long as it is in good condition. However, if you just want to bolt it on without all the extra work, we have the pre-installed baffles available for sale, too. Regardless of which one you choose, you will need to follow this guide.
NOTE: This baffle only fits USDM pans. European and Asian models have an oil level sensor which interferes with the baffle.
Additional items you will need:
Oil drain pan
5mm drill bit
M6 x 1.0 tap
10mm socket
Hondabond
Blue Loctite
Flat razor blade
Mild degreaser
70% isopropyl alcohol
If you are using your existing oil pan, I would recommend picking this Honda Genuine Oil Pan Reseal Kit for 2022+ Honda Civic 1.5T.
Step 1. Drain the oil from the oil pan. Removing the oil filter is optional, but wouldn’t hurt if you are installing the baffle yourself to ensure all material is removed from the pan prior to reinstallation.
Step 2. Once the majority of the oil has been drained out, you will need to remove these 10 bolts connecting it to the bottom of the engine block. Remove these in the reverse order, starting from #15. The oil pan shouldn’t just fall on you - it’s got a healthy amount of RTV keeping it in place.
Step 3. Your oil pan has flat indentions. You can use a flathead screwdriver or pry bar to remove it from the engine block. Be careful to not pry anywhere else besides these locations.
If you bought a pre-installed oil pan baffle, please skip to Step 10.
Step 4. Now that your oil pan has successfully been removed, and you likely have more oil on you than you’d like to admit, you can proceed with removing the windage tray (circled in red). Using a 5mm (or 13/64) drill bit, you will want to carefully drill the factory rivets out (circled in blue). Once you have drilled the head off, the windage tray should be able to be pried off with your hands. Be careful to not cut yourself though - it is sharp.
Step 5. After the windage tray is removed, you can begin with the real fun: more drilling. You will want to drill where the rivets are. Be sure to drill down as straight as possible. You can use the existing oil to help lubricate the drill bit. You will only need to drill ~10mm down.
Step 6. From here, you will need to grab a M6 x 1.0 tap to create your threads in place of those rivets. This process can be a bit tedious, but take a deep breath and follow through. You got this, I promise.
Step 7. At this point, you should have 4 new threads in your oil pan, and the supplied M6 x 1.0 bolts should thread in like butter. Be sure to check that they tighten down pretty snug. If it’s looking good, now’s the time to thoroughly clean that oil pan. Not only do you want to make sure that you have a super clean mating surface for the RTV to bond to, but you don’t want any metal shavings or RTV in the pan. Remove the second windage tray to be extra thorough. You will also want to scrape off all RTV with a razor blade. Take care to keep it flat and to not gouge the surface, as this could cause an improper seal. Mild degreasers and 70% isopropyl alcohol (or brake cleaner) can be used to clean this.
Step 8. Assembly time! Start by reinstalling the factory windage tray if you removed it. Those 5 factory bolts are torqued to 9 ft/lbs. Once that is in place, you can place the Wunderladen Oil Pan Baffle in its place. There is only one way that this fits, so make sure that you align it properly. Place a small amount of blue Loctite on the supplied M6 x 1.0 bolts, and torque to 9 ft/lbs.
Step 9. Make sure the bottom surface of the engine block is free of RTV. You can clean this with a flat razor blade, but be careful to not gouge the mating surface so there is not a risk of an improper seal. Follow with some 70% isopropyl alcohol (or brake cleaner).
Step 10. Time for reinstall. Be sure you have everything you need to move quickly - you do not have much time to install this once the gasket maker goes on. Once the surface is completely dry, place Hondabond around the pan, following this diagram. Thread in these bolts loosely to “hold” the pan in place, but do not torque down until you have them all in. Once they’re all in, you can tighten them in numerical order to snug, then torque to spec (9 ft/lbs).
Step 11. Clean up residual/extra RTV, replace oil filter, fill with your desired motor oil (after at least 30 minutes from initial install), and let it sit for at least 3 hours. Do not crank the motor or drive the vehicle while this cures. A cure time of 24 hours is recommended, but not required. After the cure time, you’re in the green to drive! Enjoy your improved oil pressure during hard turns at those AutoX/track events. (Even if you don’t, your car will.)
Two Step Performance was founded in 2017, preceded by a lifelong passion for modifying and driving turbocharged imports. We began with a small assortment of handpicked brands that we have personally used and believed in. As the company and the community around us have grown, we have continued to add carefully selected product lines to our catalog. In addition to offering brands that you already know and trust, one of our favorite things to do is to identify innovative new products and emerging brands and add them to our catalog as well. We only sell products that we believe in. We also take great pride in offering the best experience to our customers every step of the way. If we can help answer questions on your next build, give us a shout on our contact page.
