oil plug question

duffer

duffer

Senior Member
What does everyone put on there oil plug to stop it from leaking? I tried the white teflon tape but it still leaks. Would a non hardening form a gasket sealant work or pipe dope?
 
What i ment to say was the transmission plug. Here is a picture with the white teflon tape, that doesn't seem to work.
 

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If you do need a tape sealant, they do sell a gas/oil resistant teflon tape that is less likely to dissolve in presence of petroleum.
It's a little stiffer than the regular white teflon tape.
I have used it on the oil plug at the side of the block when I had a small leak from the 1/8" plug and no problems so far.
 
You may have a crack that is opening up as you tighten in the plug. Take a close look for one before you reef that plug in too far. I thought I had a leak at the trans. drain plug but it turned out to be a drip from the cluster gear and reverse idler shafts. It just ran down the casting seam and gathered at the drain plug. I believe Snyders still sells a transmission seal kit to fix that problem.
 
Another possibility: if you have leaks around the oil pan, oil can blow back onto that ****** plug and make it look like it leaks.
 
Teflon tape is impervious to oil, gasoline and gas (as in natural gas). There are two types of Teflon tape. The white is usually found in the stores. You may have to search for the yellow type. HD or Lowe's carries it. It is usually used for gas lines in the home and industry. It is thicker than the white variety. I have found that the liquid Teflon can be a pain to use in certain orientations,
Vic
 
since its a tapered plug my guess is someone overtightened it and theres a hairline crack as mentioned above. IF you find there is drain the trans, clean the crack down to bare shiney metal, use acetone to remove all oil residue and fill/cover the crack with JB weld. ive had to do this on modern cars a few times. been holding 7 years on the oldest one and no leaks and bone dry paint it whatever color you want, may not look the best but you wont have a leak...

anyhow im just checking but you are wrapping the tape the right way arent you? if not it wont seal easily. ( i learned the hard way haha)
 
For years I have just used a good plumbers pipe dope on my transmission plugs, taking care to not over tighten, and never had a leak problem. Of course if you have a crack in the threads, that's a different issue.
 
first I would get rid of the BIG plug for a plug that is flush . good rock breaker there .
 
If there are debris in the threads ---does it feel gritty when it is threaded in?? the debris will leave a leakage path and chew up any teflon tape

Previous tightenings with debris on the threads can damage the threads, a refreshing of the threads with a pipe tap along with a new plug can be needed

Mercedes still uses a tapered thread plug, I never use sealer or tape on them or my old fords

If the case is cracked around the boss nothing put on the threads will stop the leak
 
1st thing that I would do is clean it up really good with some solvent and camp out under the car with a bright light and a cold beer and wait until I see the first little bead of oil show up to pin point the leak. If you don't see it by the time you finish your 1st beer take a break in the easy chair with another one and check it when that one is empty..... If it is a crack that is causing it to leak or just bad threads you could drain the transmission, reinstall the plug, clean it up good and put a quick smear of silicone gasket sealer around the plug. Should stop it until the next time you change your transmission oil.
 
My oil plug had a plastic washer that leaked. Replaced it with a fiber washer that I picked up at Auto Zone last week when I changed the oil. No leaks yet.
 
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