How could an oil drain plug fall out after 36 days and 2500 miles? Turn back the lever to close. We have already paid for replacing the whole engine (2 diff. How to Fix a Leaking Oil Drain Plug Step 1. The molecules mix with the dirt in the engine coming from comb… First off, it might be difficult to remove, so avoid using vice grips, as those may strip the head. And screwed is the word of the day here. Anything less than 100% accuracy on making sure that drain plug and oil filter are properly tightened and not leaking (and not over-torqued either) is completely unacceptable. Apparently they left it loose and it fell out on the way home. The second is a defective crankcase ventilator along with a damaged plug "O" ring that eventually blows out resulting in a loose drain plug. Your email address will not be published. So YOU never visibly seen the oil drain plug missing before the vehicle went there. The other tip is to use a hammer and try to tap on the oil drain plug. Step 7. After 36 days and 2500 miles driven, the oil drain plug fell out, resulting in severe engine damage. The oil then tends to oxidize under high temperatures. I shut down the engine and pull over. Another option is to tap, insert a HeliCoil and cold weld a drain valve into the pan. Lastly, always torque to spec using the proper tools. Step 1. Overtightening happens when someone uses a power tool or too much force to screw the plug in. Jump to Latest Follow 1 - 20 of 25 Posts. The oil drain plug is typically located on the bottom of the engine on the oil pan. It works great and is easy to use. Over time, the oil drain plug will become damaged and may begin to leak. Try a Gator Grip. This is my 1979 Harley Davidson Sportster, it's not quite a harley davidson museum piece, but it's bought and paid for. You need AAA. To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. Squeeze equal parts of the steel and hardener onto a paper plate and mix thoroughly Remove … Anything less than 100% accuracy on making sure that drain plug and oil filter are properly tightened and not leaking (and not over-torqued either) is completely unacceptable. Having the service manual by my side I though, "This is gonna be a piece of cake." My last oil change was 7 months ago and I ve driven 2200 miles since. In the video, 1A Auto shows why you should never over tighten a drain plug. Drain Plug become loose or damaged, do not reinstall until they are repaired properly or the drain plug is replaced. The only scenarios that comes to mind is lots of short trips where the oilpan and oil never got really hot. Well it left with oil in it, came back the next day on a semi, with no oil and no drain plug. It’s easy to spot as there would be fresh oil around the plug, and on the side of it where it drips down. Your email address will not be published. It proves nothing, just like taking it in with the oil leaking out still. My mechanic informs me today that the oil drain plug dropped out on the highway, causing the sudden loss of all oil from the engine. Option 1: Use a Rubber Plug as a Temporary Repair. Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience. Go and buy a new drain plug/washer from dealer for $6. 3. first time poster,and thanks for having me.. picked up a 2004 trailblazer and started hearing an annoying rattling noise under the front end when driving slow ,,looked underneath and saw one of the 2 bolts of the small access cover for the oil drain plug was loose/dangling. To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers. Because the plug is tampered with so frequently, it can easily become the source of a leak. Close the lever and refill with engine oil How to Drain Oil: 1. My 2017 Grand Caravan oil plug rounded off with a 6 point socket. Loose oil drain plug. In her downtime she enjoys backpacking wherever her boots will carry her, rock climbing, experimental theatre, a crisp rosé , and showering love on her 2001 Sierra truck. If you are in a tight spot and you don't have time to repair the threads in the oil pan, you could install an rubber drain plug for the oil pan. The main reason why an oil drain plug gets stuck is due to sludge. But a loose drain plug didnt cause that. I have no idea how the plug could get so tight running, but I changed the oil the last time myself and did not overtigten the plug. 1; 2; Next. Being Sunday, he put an expander plug in so it was operable but cautioned against long term use. By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy. This is my 1979 Harley Davidson Sportster, it's not quite a harley davidson museum piece, but it's bought and paid for. 4 - Oil Pan Loose. Things can get real ugly if you're off either too loose or too tight. Mechanic showed me the oil drain plug was loose, the pan is aluminum and the threads were worn. We had an oil change done at a quick lube type shop. Dead Car Battery? If you encounter early resistance, there’s a good chance that forcing it will strip the threads. That's your oil drain plug. No way to prove who left the plug loose. However I smell BS on the story as well. The rubber plug is used as a temporary fix, and it's not meant to be a permanent fix. After a quick trip to the store for 5 quarts of oil and a funnel and a final "tightening" of the rubber plug (a rubber plug does not have threads, so it is basically shoved into the oil pan drain) he was on his way, filled with fear that the plug would simply fall out, drain all the oil, ruin the engine and leave him stranded on the side of the road. Yeah, they’ll get you out of a jamb. If it’s worse, you’ll have to drill, tap and install a HeliCoil. Thanks for contributing an answer to Motor Vehicle Maintenance & Repair Stack Exchange! A gator grip has little teeth that will help you take off the drain plug from the oil … There was no oil leakage or any sign of trouble up to the point where the plug came out; no oil in the driveway, or parking spot at place of employment. Remove drain plug and drain oil 2. Well, all went smoothly until I went to replace the oil drain plug. The Honda dealership that last performed the oil change doesn t … Step 6. lbf} Seating surface of the oil pan for the drain plug may have poor flatness due to improper spot welding and/or the surface may have gotten a scratch during manufacturing process. But in any case if they did leave it loose it is impossible to prove - your own insurance is only ever going to be the successful route. Ran search for oil Drain plug on Raptor Forums, found lots of depressing stories and disasters. The engine seized and will need to be replaced ($3,000). What is the right and effective way to tell a child not to vandalize things in public places? Align the oil pan under the drain plug to protect against leakage. It was a PITA to remove...had to use a freakin breaker bar to get it loose. A longer socket wrench works the best because it provides you with a lot of extra torque. Your owner’s manual should have all the information you need. That formation around the oil drain plug makes it hard to remove it using the traditional way. Seems like a very poor design combining the brass and aluminum. I've seen countless loose drain plugs on vehicles back in for an oil change, even several that were almost out, so it's feasible that an improperly tightened drain plug could last 4 months. Have we just driven the car too many miles to assign blame to any party? Ceramic resonator changes and maintains frequency when touched, Plotting datapoints found in data given in a .txt file. This threaded plug uses a sealing washer which tightens flush against the oil pan and the plug. Applying light pressure to bend them back into shape is acceptable as long as the retaining tabs properly engage the retaining groove in the oil pan. If your best efforts fail, you’ll have to replace the whole pan. In fact, you can usually undertighten it quite a bit and it will hold for a year without problems. If the bolt or oil pan have been cross-threaded, you may need a new oil drain plug. Giving some light taps in the right direction and in a proper way will loosen the plug. Dude had driven about 150 miles before it locked up on the side of the freeway. Routine oil changes are an essential part of keeping your engine happy and healthy. Each time your car gets an oil change, the plug is removed and reinstalled. There would be no way to. If the drain plug should become cross-threaded or if you lose it during your oil change, you will need a replacement. They’re cheap, but they don’t last. Oil drain plug... loose? Almost all modern cars will work without any maintenance other than oil changes for at least 100K miles. If you notice a leak at the oil plug, in some cases it can be as simple as replacing the gasket. Your options for repair depend on the severity of the damage. Great machines have already had a few good rides on them with me, my two boys and my friends. The engine seized, and Toyota took full responsibility, replacing most of engine. Today I noticed a small puddle of oil where my car had been parked. The oil drain hose connects to the drain plug in the oil pan allowing gravity to drain the oil for easier and more efficient oil changes. Oil drain plugs are what the car uses to keep oil in the oil pan. Unscrew the drain plug using a wrench or ratchet and socket and let the oil drain into the pan. Bottom line: It can be a few minutes, few weeks, or even months. 2. The company didn't tighten the plug correctly, or didn't use a proper plug ring / seal (or use one at all). Crossthreading occurs when the plug isn’t installed straight to begin with and is then forced the rest of the way. I was told that oil drain plug is known to come loose and fall out on Hyundai. Get app's compatibilty matrix from Play Store. engine oil, oil change, oil pan, thread repair. Are those Jesus' half brothers mentioned in Acts 1:14? Loose oil drain plug in GT350. Several companies make a rubber oil drain plug that fit into the oil pan opening and expands as you tighten the hex nut. The dealer diagnosis was that there is no drain plug which is probably because the last place the oil was changed (around 2-3 months back) did not install the plug properly. Worn out thread, misaligned threads, or a loose oil drain plug can be a common oil leak cause. Does having no exit record from the UK on my passport risk my visa application for re entering? The sludge forms around the drain plug because the oil in the engine has exceeded its oil change time. The oil drain plug loosed, my oil ran out and my engine is damaged. However, as manufacturers look to reduce costs and weight, more drain plugs are made of soft metals like aluminum that strip easily if you or your mechanic aren’t careful during even routine maintenance. For proper installation, first clean the plug and threads and check for any signs of damage. If the threads are completely stripped it can even lead to the drain plug not fitting at all which would leave your engine completely empty of oil and unable to be ran. They’re a temporary fix. The dipstick was dry, and the drain plug was missing. It is deep enough. Oversized oil drain plugs made to replace a 1/2" oil drain plug. Use the proper-sized socket with the right number of sides. When the bolts get loose, they do not apply enough pressure to the Oil Pan Gasket. Oil loss should be minimal if you are good at swapping. The place that did the oil change will never admit they were at fault. Went for the drain plug with a 19mm 6 point socket, didn’t budge. Seems like a very poor design combining the brass and aluminum. In other instances, the drain plug … Lift up the lever and turn counter-clockwise. The rubber plug is used as a temporary fix, and it's not meant to be a permanent fix. According to the drain pan I use to catch oil, it had about 2 quarts in it. If you are in a tight spot and you don't have time to repair the threads in the oil pan, you could install an rubber drain plug for the oil pan. All Rights Reserved. A drain plug is used to remove oil from the engine. Remove the filter, and replace it with a new one to determine whether the leak is caused by a faulty oil filter. 2. They dont want to settle with you now because they are not compell to. Take your ratchet and loosen the oil pan drain plug until it is about to come out. Now that it was loose, the plug just keeps rotating..in both directions. Your car’s oil drain plug has a very important, if often underrated job. 4. I tried to get the oil drain plug off going "left is loose". Never count on a rubber plug for the long term. How to calculate charge analysis for a molecule. I checked the dipstick and it was bone dry. I rounded the head of hte plug off with an impact socket. If the drain plug is loose or the sealing washer is missing or worn it can cause an oil leak. Threw tools, said "dab nabbit" about 50 times, and finally got it loose but it just kept spinning. Beware not to damage the oil drain plug or its teeth. Decided to change my oil today with my kid to teach her the basics of motorcycling maintenance. Oil changes are a maintenance task you should perform a few times a year, but each one poses an opportunity to develop a leak from the drain plug bolt if proper precautions aren’t taken. They could not have been nicer... After 36 days and 2500 miles, it would be nearly impossible to prove it back to the shop. Then 35 days later a long trip gets it really warm and the plug gets loose and falls out. Oil Pan Drain Plug. The oil drain plug on my 2012 Grand Cherokee with the 5.7 Hemi is absolutly frozen. While they are probably to blame (as being the last to touch), they will never own up to it. Better be safe than sorry, a quick loss of oil through your drain plug … 1. (Some vehicle models use a similar round plug, which you can pull to drain the oil.) Common Oil Leak #7 – 7.3 Powerstroke Oil Leak in the Valley. This doesn't really add anything else. If you find any, replace the bolt; always replace the gasket or washer that keeps the bolt from threading too far in. The oil plug was never tighten to proper torque obviously and came off. About a 1/4 mile away, driving up a hill on the way home I noticed what sounded like noisy lifters, while rolling down the window to check I see the oil light come on. Well, today I decided that I was going to do an oil change on the Suzuki GZ250 I just bought. site design / logo © 2021 Stack Exchange Inc; user contributions licensed under cc by-sa. The only thing I did was take a picture of the drain pan with the 2qts in it and save the oil. A plastic drain pan with a brass plug seat and a aluminum plug. Oil Drain plug disaster and the fix I own 3 2005 350 Raptors just got them this Spring 2016. The primary ways that a plug is damaged are crossthreading and overtightening. Use a Socket Wrench. Almost all modern cars will work without any maintenance other than oil changes for at least 100K miles. The only thing you could do is litigate and that would be more for your pride than anything, because the cost would be more than it would be to repair, by far. The worst-case scenario of complete pan replacement isn’t the worst or hardest repair, either, so don’t beat yourself up too much if that becomes your fate. Clean the drain plug opening thoroughly with brake cleaner or acetone and let the car sit in that position until the oil pan drain opening is perfectly dry Mix the JB Weld. 1. If this seems to be the case, or if the plug feels loose, it’s best to take your vehicle to a qualified mechanic who can decide whether the drain plug socket needs to be re-bored, or if it can be fixed using a chemical sealant. © Copyright National Automotive Parts Association. Oil rail end plug. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. It may take a few extra taps to get it loose. By simply replacing your factory oil drain plug at your next oil change with the No-Spill™ oil drain plug, you will eliminate common draining problems including messy oil … But it’s good to have options if something goes wrong. Bringing the company to court may not be worth it, but even a letter from your lawyer, stating that you are going to take them to a small claims court, can do wonders for getting their attention and a promptly reply. What are they going to do, perform forensic analysis on my drain plug to see whose wrench last left tool marks on it? The drain plug also contains a crush type gasket which can fail over time or if it isn’t replaced. Take out a long handled socket wrench and try to twist the oil drain plug off. The oil drain plug is what helps to hold the oil in and releases it when it is removed during an oil change. Damaged threads on a drain plug or leaving one improperly tightened does not have a set rule on how long it takes to fall out. Your engine needs oil to run. Oil Pan Drain Plug Leak. You need an attorney Everything is too tidy and makes the owner seem innocent. This is, of course, assuming that there isn't a hole in your oil pan! Answers and comments already agree the most likely cause is that someone removed it, not a garage leaving it loose. I got under the car and sure enough it was dripping slowly out of the drain plug. Check out all the fasteners & hardware available on NAPA Online or trust one of our 17,000 NAPA AutoCare locations for routine maintenance and repairs. Option 1: Use a Rubber Plug as a Temporary Repair. Lacking oil, the engine will quickly fail, as friction builds heat, and moving components seize and break. Obviously, it’s best to be careful and avoid damage in the first place. For all you know a neighborhood kid or disgruntled employee got under your at some point when it was outside and loosened the bolt. The end plug o-rings can wear out and leak or the Loctite 277 can fail and cause the plugs to get loose and leak. You need to prove your case obviously and you may need a witness like the mecanic where your car was towed and he saw the oil plug missing from the oil pan. He also said that the engine is ruined and will have to be replace and asked me to contact my insurance company. Hand install the valve until tight, and give 1/8 turn with a small crescent wrench on the body. Probably not, but it's tough to just give up having drained a lot of money from savings. There was no oil leakage or any sign of trouble up to the point where the plug came out; no oil in the driveway, or parking spot at place of employment. Then undo the old plug, plug the hole with your finger, then swap to the new plug. Next, tighten it by hand as far as you can — this should be most of the way. A stripped oil drain plug can lead to major engine failure, so take a moment to learn about the best practices for avoiding it and what your options are for repair if it’s too late. I received a call from the dealer today that the issue, they think, was a loose oil drain plug and that I was down 2 quarts (after adding 1.5 since last oil change only a month ago). At this point I was getting mad that the guy I bought the machine from over tightened it and messed up the threads. ... Metal plate for the drain plug that's spot welded inside pan has broken loose... Got to come off for repair or replacement. How to increase the byte size of a file without affecting content? This is what I'm afraid of Paul. The proofs of limit laws and derivative rules appear to tacitly assume that the limit exists in the first place. An improperly tightened engine oil drain plug can cause an engine oil leak. Had my oil changed at Jiffy Lube #2580 in Redmond, WA. Also, do not buy into any statements that the oil was topped off, the filter replaced, and now everything is coming up roses. 4. 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You need a real great insurance company, Here is what happened to me: http://lfeisaglitch.blogspot.com/2015/05/oil-change.html. Are Random Forests good at detecting interaction terms? That's why I like changing oil myself, no overtightened drains. Tried a Wrench, no go, 4ft breaker bar, nothing. We have gone through the process of filing a complaint with the oil change shop, and both their owner and insurance company have denied liability, … Tighten the drain plug if bubbles appear in the lubricant, or replace the drain plug if it is damaged. 3 years ago. This Simple Hack Lets You Shift to Neutral, How To Use Sea Foam: Three Ways To A Cleaner Fuel System, Failing Oil Pressure Sensor? 3. When I pick up the car, they want me to drive it 1,000 miles and bring it back. Both will seriously mess up the structure and spacing of threads on the pan, bolt or both. It would then be free to work its way loose over some time before leaking/falling out.
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