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So this looks weird, what appears to be collapsed threads, and some sort of plastic washers, on those oilpan drain plug. Look ok? Always a bead of oil on it anxiously waiting to drop. 350 sbc
Odd threads with the cut up the center... I've not seen that on my engines, so must be a replacement.
Looks like you have two plastic washers. Remove them and replace with a single new one. Should be available in the Dorman section of your local parts stores. They may have a replacement bolt hanging on the peg board too.
Before screwing in the plug again, run a file flat on the pan's boss to make sure there are no burrs.
I would get a new one that has a flat flange and the sealing washer goes under that. Puts even pressure on the sealing gasket and make for a better seal.
Kinda depends on the condition of the pan surface. It SHOULD be nice and flat under that plug. But, years of drain plug use and plug over-torquing has probably bunged-up that surface. A REAL drain plug...with a flat flange on it...would be a big improvement. But you might still need a plastic or rubber-coated washer under it to get it to seal well. Unless the pan surface is really flat, don't try a copper washer (like it should have); the washer won't deform enough to seal it properly.
That's definitely one of those self tappers. They are a replacement for when the threads are stripped out. I would put one snug fitting steel washer on and then a new nylon washer. A dab of silicone on it couldn't hurt.
Those oversize repair plugs aren't the best repair but cheap N easy.
Guess you get only so many oil changes before the luck runs. I ground down the plastic washers that are on the plug, it might help them seal the hole. From the shape that are in, it seems to me they are too large (around) and so not sealing perfectly. Hopefully the leak is not coming from the threads. Put about a pint of oil in, I'll see if it leaks. I believe I will replace the plug soon as I can (need the car this weekend so after that I'll have more time). Thanks for the suggestions.
That's definitely one of those self tappers. They are a replacement for when the threads are stripped out. I would put one snug fitting steel washer on and then a new nylon washer. A dab of silicone on it couldn't hurt.
Those oversize repair plugs aren't the best repair but cheap N easy.
So if that is a self tappers, a new replacement would likely not thread up; if I ruin those threads I'm screwed and would have to replace the pan?
You could probably get a million oil changes without striping the original threads in the pan....if yahoo grease jockeys didn't use air impact wrenches to put oil pan plugs back in...
You could probably get a million oil changes without striping the original threads in the pan....if yahoo grease jockeys didn't use air impact wrenches to put oil pan plugs back in...
Seriously? I've only been a mechanic for 50 years now, so I'm still learning. I've worked with a lot of different mechanics over the years. I see a LOT of the young guys using a torque wrench. But I have NEVER seen a mechanic that stupid!
You will also need an aluminum washer that has a captured or intregated rubber o-ring on the inside diameter of the washer. Make sure it fits over the new drain plug with a little interference fit. Toss out any washers that comes with new drain plug. The aluminum washer will keep the drain plug from crushing the rubber o-ring, to create a good seal..
I like these things. They make different modes to match up to almost any engine. Put it in once and you never need a wrench to change your oil again. No worries about stripped threads and I never had one leak.
You could probably get a million oil changes without striping the original threads in the pan....if yahoo grease jockeys didn't use air impact wrenches to put oil pan plugs back in...
That's why I do my own maintenance. I got tired of fixing the damage caused by 'mechanics'. And oil changes are the worst. Always some kid off the street. Changing oil is beneath the real techs.
Oil pan drain plug
