drain plug repair
- Thread starter flatheadA
- Start date
Step 1. DO NOT use one of those oversize self-tapping drain plugs! You will most likely have a permanent leak thereafter if you do!
Step 2. First try just a new plug! At least on newer vehicles, the pan insert is much harder than the plug so when Harry Hammerhand gets to it, he strips the plug and not the pan. A new plug and you're good to go. In the past 25+ years as a mechanic, I have not had to use one of those evil self-threading oversize plugs but end up with a good-sized handful of stripped plugs every year.
Step 3. If it is your pan that is stripped, go to a good parts house and ask to see a catalog (Dorman, maybe) of drain plugs and find one the next size up (it may be metric). Get a tap that size and drill and retap. If you aimed the drill right, no more leaks.
This is assuming you have a later model with a regular sized plug. If you have the early large-mouthd plug, it may be necessary to drop the pan. A 'farmer fix' here may be disasterous.
Step 2. First try just a new plug! At least on newer vehicles, the pan insert is much harder than the plug so when Harry Hammerhand gets to it, he strips the plug and not the pan. A new plug and you're good to go. In the past 25+ years as a mechanic, I have not had to use one of those evil self-threading oversize plugs but end up with a good-sized handful of stripped plugs every year.
Step 3. If it is your pan that is stripped, go to a good parts house and ask to see a catalog (Dorman, maybe) of drain plugs and find one the next size up (it may be metric). Get a tap that size and drill and retap. If you aimed the drill right, no more leaks.
This is assuming you have a later model with a regular sized plug. If you have the early large-mouthd plug, it may be necessary to drop the pan. A 'farmer fix' here may be disasterous.
Jack E/NJ
Well-known member
Scott H
Well-known member
Sorry for the short answer, it was in response to your question "is this the correct plug"...no it is not
Yes, it is a self-tapping plug and that is probably what finished ruining the threads after they were already buggered by a previous mechanic/owner.
Hi
the plug looks like a dran plug that is magnetized. This type of plug is s real good idea as it will pick-up fine particles of steel, and iron your oil. It won,t however attract to copper, brass, or aluminum.
I had the same problem some years ago, so i removed the pan, inspected the threads and they were good
and tig welded the insert in. No problems now. Ford only crimped the insert in the pan.
Al
'
the plug looks like a dran plug that is magnetized. This type of plug is s real good idea as it will pick-up fine particles of steel, and iron your oil. It won,t however attract to copper, brass, or aluminum.
I had the same problem some years ago, so i removed the pan, inspected the threads and they were good
and tig welded the insert in. No problems now. Ford only crimped the insert in the pan.
Al
'
ken ct
BANNED
Ive been useing an "O" ring on my Motor Home generator that had a leaking fiber gasket.I change it for a new one every time i change the oil which is every 100 hrs and it cured the leak. You dont tighen it up too much snug and then maybe another 1/2 turn. Worked for me 3 yrs so far. ken ct.