[AT] Oil drain plugs?

[Steve W.]

There is an easy way to replace many drain plugs by using the next size
up plug. For instance I have used a US threaded plug to replace a metric
one that was stripped. I do retap the threads before this though. What I
usually do is pull the old plug, let the oil drain. Find the correct
plug and tap. Then fill the tap with a light grease to trap as much as
possible. Then screw in the new plug. dump a gallon of diesel in the
engine and let it sit a while, then pull the new plug and watch all the
crud and any left over metal come running out. Just consult a drill/tap
table for the size you have and get the next one up off the rack at the
parts store.

Steve Williams
Near Cooperstown NY


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Robinson" <robinson at svs.net>
To: "Antique tractor email discussion group"
<at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
Sent: Friday, April 16, 2004 7:59 AM
Subject: [AT] Oil drain plugs?


> Has anybody come across oversize or tapered replacement oil
> drain plugs? Its a common problem especially on stuff where
> others often change oil like cars and trucks. "Two Ton
> Torque Ted" works at the local filling station or quick
> change place and he thinks (or just doesn't) that an oil
> drain plug tightened to 150 ft. pounds is loose...   :-)  He
> is a first cousin to that guy that used a 350 ft. pound
> impact wrench on your new aluminum wheels and ruined two of
> them. That guy is responsible for half of the warped brake
> rotors replaced each year.   ;-)
> I have never stripped the threads on a plug but I have
> bought a lot of vehicles with partially stripped plugs.
> Actually it is worse than stripped plug threads because some
> how it is usually the threads in the pan that strip. I have
> used the rubber plugs that you stick in the hole and tighten
> with an allen wrench until they mushroom inside of the pan
> to seal it but I don't really like them. I have also used
> but don't like those repair plugs where you force screw a
> self tapping plug with a threaded hole in it for a smaller plug.
> It would seem to me that a better product would be a
> replacement plug with the same TPI but made with a taper a
> little like a pipe plug. Maybe even a plug that was only a
> few thousandths bigger that was tapered on the end for easy
> starting.
> I have on occasion drilled the pan out and tapped the hole
> for a larger plug but even with a bit of flushing I worry
> about missing filings in the pan. Many of today's vehicles
> require removing everything but the license plate to take
> the pan off to make a repair.
> I noticed when I changed to oil on the Lincoln that one of
> the drain plugs was about done for. I'll try just buying a
> new plug and tightening it gingerly. I also noticed that
> when I took out the secondary plug it looked and felt like
> that was the first time it had ever been removed. I guess
> they had always just left the dirty oil in that sump each
> time. The PO had always had a quickie place change oil.
> Any new ideas out there?
> -- 
>
>
>
> "farmer"
>
> "Those are not carbs, those are potatoes."
>
>
> Francis Robinson
> Central Indiana USA
> robinson at svs.net
>
>
>
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