Could of been nasty
Discussion
I just went out to put the Chim away in the garage, after closing the garage door I noticed a large oil pool on the drive,
I went in and checked the Chim and notice the oil was dripping from the drain plug,
as I touched it it was incredably loose almost to the point of falling out,
I have been out in it nearly all day, and can only imagine what damage could of been done had it come all the way out.
I guess its because of the excessive expansion and contraction of the sump due to the heat,
Has this happened to anyone else?
Ed
I went in and checked the Chim and notice the oil was dripping from the drain plug,
as I touched it it was incredably loose almost to the point of falling out,
I have been out in it nearly all day, and can only imagine what damage could of been done had it come all the way out.
I guess its because of the excessive expansion and contraction of the sump due to the heat,
Has this happened to anyone else?
Ed
shouldent be because of heat, although ive noticed that if you did grind the sump out ever so slightly it could loosen the plug,as the corners of the nut are lower than the sump base.worth seeing if its clipped anything.probably just wasent done up properly.VERY LUCKY CHAP.
Edited by That Daddy on Sunday 18th June 21:06
This is why I developed the mag sump plug with a circular profile that can't be undone if the sump is grounded.
See www.tvrextras.co.uk
See www.tvrextras.co.uk
Yep, same happened to me a few years back, came out to go to work and the drive was full of your best Mobil 1. Sump plug was in by less than 1/2 turn.
As has been said, a slight meeting with a speed hump is all it needs to kock it loose, the engine vibrations do the rest.
I dread to think of the consequences of living another 200 yards along the road!
As has been said, a slight meeting with a speed hump is all it needs to kock it loose, the engine vibrations do the rest.
I dread to think of the consequences of living another 200 yards along the road!

That Daddy said:
shouldent be because of heat, although ive noticed that if you did grind the sump out ever so slightly it could loosen the plug,as the corners of the nut are lower than the sump base.worth seeing if its clipped anything.probably just wasent done up properly.VERY LUCKY CHAP.
Edited by That Daddy on Sunday 18th June 21:06
Think you were right, I now remember catching a speed bump in a carpark yesterday morning,
at the time I did'nt anything of it.
Just goes to show how careful you need to be.
edtvr said:
Has this happened to anyone else?
Yes!
Luckily I managed to pull over before doing any damage. It was pretty hair-raising as there was smoke everywhere and I didn't know what was happening!
Lost my confidence for weeks after that episode (having previously had problems with the engine intermittently cutting-out which has since been rectified).
victormeldrew said:
I think I've been lucky to have escaped this, my sump has some scoring just fore of the sump plug. I was thinking of aralditing an ally plate onto the bottom of the sump as a skid guard to help prevent this.
I got under the car tonight and can confirm that there were fresh scrape marks on the exhaust and sump, and a corner of the plug was clearly marked.
When you look along the bottom of the car the sump plug is the lowest point, so any grounding
would make contact with it,
I mangaged to tighten the plug up so that an egde was parrallel with the floor, but agree a skid plate or deflector plate would help,
edtvr said:
That Daddy said:
shouldent be because of heat, although ive noticed that if you did grind the sump out ever so slightly it could loosen the plug,as the corners of the nut are lower than the sump base.worth seeing if its clipped anything.probably just wasent done up properly.VERY LUCKY CHAP.
Edited by That Daddy on Sunday 18th June 21:06
Think you were right, I now remember catching a speed bump in a carpark yesterday morning,
at the time I did'nt anything of it.
Just goes to show how careful you need to be.
it wasn't something to do with the donuts and slides in the carpark was it?
edtvr said:
the sump plug is the lowest point, so any grounding
would make contact with it...
would make contact with it...
Yep, I reckon that's what happened to mine - there was a rather loud noise prior to the smoke etc, presumably where the sump had made contact with the road which was (and still is!) uneven in a particular spot.
gudge said:
edtvr said:
That Daddy said:
shouldent be because of heat, although ive noticed that if you did grind the sump out ever so slightly it could loosen the plug,as the corners of the nut are lower than the sump base.worth seeing if its clipped anything.probably just wasent done up properly.VERY LUCKY CHAP.
Edited by That Daddy on Sunday 18th June 21:06
Think you were right, I now remember catching a speed bump in a carpark yesterday morning,
at the time I did'nt anything of it.
Just goes to show how careful you need to be.
it wasn't something to do with the donuts and slides in the carpark was it?
As if he would do that!

victormeldrew said:
shpub said:
Not for me Steve, I have an oil temp pickup drilled and tapped through the cnetre of the sump plug. There wouldn't be much left of yours if I did that to one!
Good idea though, just no good for me.
Is there room to get an allen key in the end of the plug, mine is so tight up against the exhaust, I could not even get a socket on to it because of its length, had to use a spanner.
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