A lot of people assume that an oil pan is just an oil pan. The assumption is that it holds oil and that’s it. Simple and cheap is the way to go. The only time many people think about their oil pan is when it is time for engine maintenance and they need to drain the oil. However, for the more dedicated of auto enthusiasts an oil pan and subsequently an entire oiling system can be a matter of engine life and death. Many enthusiasts know that there are 3 types of basic oiling systems. (Click here to read that blog). Beyond the types of oiling systems there are specifics about how to set them up. With many different types and options for oiling systems we could go on for days. However, here we are just going to focus on the two most common materials used for oil pans.