The oil pan is typically located underneath your vehicle at the bottom of your engine block. It is made of metal but is not flat like some cooking pans. It is concave and looks more like a reservoir with a bump on it. The purpose of the oil pan is to hold or contain the motor oil that circulates through your engine. As the motor oil flows through engine components to assist in combustion, a good portion of it works its way down to the oil pan, especially when the car is off. The other oil stays within the engine block keeping the internal components properly coated. Once running again, your car will re-circulate the motor oil assuring proper lubrication.