Sump plug leaking after service.
Discussion
I took my 12 year old VW to an independent for servicing for the first time a few days ago; always having used VW franchised dealers before.
Today I noticed oil on the driveway. On removing the undertray to have a look it's clearly dripping from the sump drain plug.
The oil has completely saturated the oil catch sponge attached to the undertray and once that was full the oil started dripping onto my driveway.
I'm taking it back for them to sort but wanted to ask opinions on whether they should also replace the undertray which is now full of oil (having done its job).
Thanks.
Today I noticed oil on the driveway. On removing the undertray to have a look it's clearly dripping from the sump drain plug.
The oil has completely saturated the oil catch sponge attached to the undertray and once that was full the oil started dripping onto my driveway.
I'm taking it back for them to sort but wanted to ask opinions on whether they should also replace the undertray which is now full of oil (having done its job).
Thanks.
Sounds like crush washer not replaced.. simple fix for them, even if doing it correctly wouldn’t have been difficult in the first place. Under tray will just need a good degrease and clean, Simple enough again.
Could have been worse though , could always have a plastic filter housing that burst on start up dump 7L of oil all over your drive and road
Could have been worse though , could always have a plastic filter housing that burst on start up dump 7L of oil all over your drive and road
Long story short, previous owner of my old Alfa did up the bronze nut too tight, threaded the softer sump metal and the plug wouldn't tighten properly, almost went round again on the 'tightened' thread.
Thinking I needed a new sump
I took it to my mate and up on the lift he drained the oil, cleaned the sump and refitted the washer/plug with some black rtv stuff.
From then on I sucked out the oil using a Pela, changing the filter was a piece of cake on the twinny.
Just a thought, the sump might be threaded!
Thinking I needed a new sump
I took it to my mate and up on the lift he drained the oil, cleaned the sump and refitted the washer/plug with some black rtv stuff.From then on I sucked out the oil using a Pela, changing the filter was a piece of cake on the twinny.
Just a thought, the sump might be threaded!
I'd check how much oil is in there first!
In my frugal distant youth, I often changed the oil without changing the sump plug washer on my sheds. And even on ally sumps, never had a leak. I can't imagine even a bad washer torqued up would leak THAT much oil unless the sump is under some seriously unhealthy pressure.
For that amount of oil to be dumped in such a short amount of time, I'd question whether they've actually not even tightened it beyond finger tight, or worse still, stripped the threads.
In my frugal distant youth, I often changed the oil without changing the sump plug washer on my sheds. And even on ally sumps, never had a leak. I can't imagine even a bad washer torqued up would leak THAT much oil unless the sump is under some seriously unhealthy pressure.
For that amount of oil to be dumped in such a short amount of time, I'd question whether they've actually not even tightened it beyond finger tight, or worse still, stripped the threads.
I would be worried that they've pulled the threads out of the sump. Do not attempt to tighten it yourself, take it back to them to rectify, and then make a point of asking them why it was leaking and how they rectified it. Seems unlikely it's just loose, and any fix that requires the sump plug to come out will obviously waste all of the oil. Did they put new oil in or did they catch it in a manky old drain pan and pour it back in? Also there's a fear that the tech will know the threads are buggered and will try to bodge it, leaving you in the st next time.
t next time. 
Update - thanks all for the advice.
Checked oil level before setting off and it was just on the minimum.
Same mechanic who serviced it saw me and I asked to see the car on the ramp. When we had a look he admitted that he had not replaced the crush washer saying that everything was about costs these days!
Drained oil fitted a new crush washer. All good.He had the cheek to tell me that there would be no charge.
I then spoke to reception to tell them that although I appreciated them fitting me in first thing to sort it; I was not at all happy. Especially as this is the first time I have used a non VW dealer service workshop.
This is a very well reviewed local garage and came highly recommended.
What if I hadn't noticed the oil leak. Could have been expensive!
Checked oil level before setting off and it was just on the minimum.
Same mechanic who serviced it saw me and I asked to see the car on the ramp. When we had a look he admitted that he had not replaced the crush washer saying that everything was about costs these days!
Drained oil fitted a new crush washer. All good.He had the cheek to tell me that there would be no charge.
I then spoke to reception to tell them that although I appreciated them fitting me in first thing to sort it; I was not at all happy. Especially as this is the first time I have used a non VW dealer service workshop.
This is a very well reviewed local garage and came highly recommended.
What if I hadn't noticed the oil leak. Could have been expensive!
My VAG specialist called me to say my Touareg sump plug was leaking due to stripped threads and a new sump pan was ~£900 since it involved dropping the subframe and engine cradle. I reminded them they had been the only people servicing the car for the previous 9 years.
In the end they used some metal putty around the sump plug and oil changes are now done via dip-stick suction and the sump's second (higher up) drain plug. I am too much of a nice guy, I should have kicked up a fuss.
In the end they used some metal putty around the sump plug and oil changes are now done via dip-stick suction and the sump's second (higher up) drain plug. I am too much of a nice guy, I should have kicked up a fuss.
Oilchange said:
Long story short, previous owner of my old Alfa did up the bronze nut too tight, threaded the softer sump metal and the plug wouldn't tighten properly, almost went round again on the 'tightened' thread.
Thinking I needed a new sump I took it to my mate and up on the lift he drained the oil, cleaned the sump and refitted the washer/plug with some black rtv stuff.
From then on I sucked out the oil using a Pela, changing the filter was a piece of cake on the twinny.
Just a thought, the sump might be threaded!
Alfas were notorious for this. Alfa main dealer managed to do this to mine, then wanted payment for the new sump! Thinking I needed a new sump
I took it to my mate and up on the lift he drained the oil, cleaned the sump and refitted the washer/plug with some black rtv stuff.From then on I sucked out the oil using a Pela, changing the filter was a piece of cake on the twinny.
Just a thought, the sump might be threaded!
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