Oil pan plug questain

packyusmc

packyusmc

Member
I changed the oil in my car yesterday. It's a '48 engine. I haven't been able to find a gasket for the plug. I got a do it your self material at O'Reilly and used the cork material. I used a magnetic Lisle brand plug. Now I have a major oil leak. Where did I go wrong? Thanks for your help
 
I do not think cork is a good choice. At the very least use gasket material, paper like. I do not have that gasket and my pan does not leak from the drain plug.
 
NAPA has the correct copper compression gaskets for the oil drain plug. Cork or paper will just tear and leak.
 
I also have an O ring.Its small diameter.Do you think it would work. When I took the plug out, didn't look like it had a gasket. It was the stock Ford plug.
 
when changing the oil in my 40 for the first time i noticed there was no gasket, put it back on without one and it don"t leak, should there be one ?.
 
Copper gaskets were the norm in that era 91A-6734. Some were solid copper washers and some have copper sandwiched around an asbestos inner ring to form a compression gasket as was previously mentioned. The 52-6734-A gaskets available now are fiber I believe which is also a common reusable material. Fiber washers were replaced with plastic in the modern era. Aluminum is also used more in modern times. FoMoCo and other manufacturers tended to use a semi reusable gasket or washer since most folks wouldn't go and buy one.
 
packyusmc said:
I also have an O ring.Its small diameter.Do you think it would work. When I took the plug out, didn't look like it had a gasket. It was the stock Ford plug.
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No, on the O-ring. There's no recess for it so it will just shred if you tighten the bolt enough.

The copper washers I've gotten recently reflect the high cost of copper; I suspect they have as much copper as a penny these days. They aren't soft enough to do any good. Aluminum is cheap and works great.
 
Most all of the suppliers of old Ford parts such as C&G and Mac's sell drain plug gaskets. I usually buy 3 or so at a time so I have them on hand. Why bother to make your own? JMO
 
I called all over town and couldn't find a copper crush gasket. I ended up with a thick paper gasket the right size. Will see how it works.
 
make one out of a plastic milk jug--needed one quickly and since it works so good I have kept it for 20 years
 
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