Leaking sump plug

[spikeyhead]

The old sump plug was stuck, and judicial tapping with a chisel didn't shift it so I drilled it out. Unfortunately I've lost some of the threads and a new plug isn't sealing properly.

What's the best way forwards? Helicoil or is there some magic option?

[Coilspring]

spikeyhead said:

The old sump plug was stuck, and judicial tapping with a chisel didn't shift it so I drilled it out. Unfortunately I've lost some of the threads and a new plug isn't sealing properly.

What's the best way forwards? Helicoil or is there some magic option?

What car? New sump might be the easiest answer

[CrutyRammers]

Drill and tap to the next size up, use a normal bolt and copper washer to seal it. You can get all those bits on ebay easily.

[deggles]

You could helicoil it or just go a size up and re-tap the hole, e.g. M14 to M15. You can get kits on eBay for just this, with a tap and oversize plugs. Quite hard to do with the sump on the car though, might be easier just replacing the sump.

[E-bmw]

The thread isn't the seal, has it got a copper/aluminium washer on it?

If not get one on it.

[Coilspring]

E-bmw said:

The thread isn't the seal, has it got a copper/aluminium washer on it?

If not get one on it.

Agree, but.

Would you trust, or advise, to use a sump plug with damaged, weak, loose thread ?

[Chris32345]

E-bmw said:

The thread isn't the seal, has it got a copper/aluminium washer on it?

If not get one on it.

Unless is a tapered sump plug
In that case the thread is part of the seal and there's no additional seal

[E-bmw]

Coilspring said:

E-bmw said:

The thread isn't the seal, has it got a copper/aluminium washer on it?

If not get one on it.

Agree, but.

Would you trust, or advise, to use a sump plug with damaged, weak, loose thread ?

The OP doesn't really say it is that bad, so without seeing it I wouldn't be in a position to comment.

[E-bmw]

Chris32345 said:

E-bmw said:

The thread isn't the seal, has it got a copper/aluminium washer on it?

If not get one on it.

Unless is a tapered sump plug
In that case the thread is part of the seal and there's no additional seal

Correct, uncommon but not unheard of because they would then require PTFE thread or similar to actually seal completely and you don't want that stuff in your sump!

[Chris32345]

E-bmw said:

Correct, uncommon but not unheard of because they would then require PTFE thread or similar to actually seal completely and you don't want that stuff in your sump!

No they don't and they arnt that uncommon at all lots of cars have them and they require nothing else to seal not PTFE tape or anything else

[E-bmw]

Chris32345 said:

E-bmw said:

Correct, uncommon but not unheard of because they would then require PTFE thread or similar to actually seal completely and you don't want that stuff in your sump!

No they don't and they arnt that uncommon at all lots of cars have them and they require nothing else to seal not PTFE tape or anything else

OK, I am prepared to agree to disagree as I have not come across any personally.

[Chris32345]

E-bmw said:

OK, I am prepared to agree to disagree as I have not come across any personally.

https://www.shop4parts.co.uk/?name=store&op=Details&ProdID=956&sku=72931
Not the best picture but this is an example of one as used in my last engine/car

[Coilspring]

E-bmw said:

The OP doesn't really say it is that bad, so without seeing it I wouldn't be in a position to comment.

Wasn't trying to have a go.

Just that being remote and not seeing it, I would't want to advise taking a risk with sump threads was all.

But we don't even know what car it is, to give best advice

[Coilspring]

Chris32345 said:

No they don't and they arnt that uncommon at all lots of cars have them and they require nothing else to seal not PTFE tape or anything else

Certainly not the majority of cars.

Struggling to think of many like that.

[Jakg]

Only anecdotal experience from me.

Sump plug on my wifes MK4 Golf was an oversized replacement, clearly been drilled and tapped on the car in the past.

Worked for a couple of oil changes but then when torquing up stripped the threads.

Replaced the sump (new was only like £40-£50) and found a lovely metal disc sitting in the oil pickup from where it had been drilled out on the car and the swarf had luckily not got into the engine.

If your going to repair, do it off the car. And if it's off the car, how much more does a new one cost...

[finishing touch]

E-bmw said:

Correct, uncommon but not unheard of because they would then require PTFE thread or similar to actually seal completely and you don't want that stuff in your sump!

Synthetic oil has liquidised ptfe in it's make up, and other long chain polymers.

Paul G

[aka_kerrly]

Coilspring said:

What car? New sump might be the easiest answer

Is exactly my thought to. I really would not want a helicoil bodged sump plug.

[E-bmw]

finishing touch said:

E-bmw said:

Correct, uncommon but not unheard of because they would then require PTFE thread or similar to actually seal completely and you don't want that stuff in your sump!

Synthetic oil has liquidised ptfe in it's make up, and other long chain polymers.

Paul G

I wasn't talking from the perspective of PTFE as a compound but from the perspective of the "strings" it leaves in the thread to get picked up & deposited in the oil to block oilways & pumps as it does NOT break down.

[spikeyhead]

The car is a ten year old Mondeo, which is now showing all of its 185,000 miles and won't be running for too much longer.

The injectors are hinting at needing replacing and the DMF has just started to wobble a bit, so the car is off to the garage today for a drill and tap the next size up. All I want is for it to not drip oil on the drive until it finally dies.

[finishing touch]

E-bmw said:

finishing touch said:

E-bmw said:

Correct, uncommon but not unheard of because they would then require PTFE thread or similar to actually seal completely and you don't want that stuff in your sump!

Synthetic oil has liquidised ptfe in it's make up, and other long chain polymers.

Paul G

I wasn't talking from the perspective of PTFE as a compound but from the perspective of the "strings" it leaves in the thread to get picked up & deposited in the oil to block oilways & pumps as it does NOT break down.

Just thought that since most of us buy semi or fully synthetic oil people might be interested in what it contains, that's all.

To add more info in pictorial form (to coin a phrase) here's one I made earlier.
Obviously its on its side, the square top is an insulated walkway/loading area, the next 2/3rds is a steam jacket, and the dished end has the motor
and chopper mounted in it. The second photo is the inside showing the blades that chop 30cm cubes of ptfe.
I've made these for most of the oil companies worldwide. Esso, Amoco, Agip, Shell, BP, etc.

Paul G