Sealing sump plug permanently
Discussion
Hi all
I know this is going to sound a botch but I have a £500 car that I use to commute and the sump plug is leaking just a drop here and there.
The sump plug has rounded off and all attempts have failed and sump and plug is alloy so no luck welding a nut on,
I plan to change the sump sometime in the future but at the moment don’t have the time to get it sorted.
So what could I use to seal it up?
I could even change the oil using an extractor from now on in
I know this is going to sound a botch but I have a £500 car that I use to commute and the sump plug is leaking just a drop here and there.
The sump plug has rounded off and all attempts have failed and sump and plug is alloy so no luck welding a nut on,
I plan to change the sump sometime in the future but at the moment don’t have the time to get it sorted.
So what could I use to seal it up?
I could even change the oil using an extractor from now on in
'Just a drop here and there' doesn't sound as if it's enough to worry about. However, if you're determined to try to cure it and looking for ways to do that without getting the sump plug off, you could try an Oyltite stick. I've never needed to use one, but they claim to be able to cure tiny oil leaks in joints without disassembly so it might work. Failing that, you might try cleaning the area really thoroughly and then gobbing some paint over the whole thing. It hardly has to take any pressure.
Ok after a closer inspection it seems what’s happened is the torx head rounded off and snapped just at the point of loosening I have managed to wind the piece out and oil has drained but weirdly the main sump plug is still threaded into the sump so basically the internal part has wound out this bit was the torx part
But that’s slightly good news now aslong ad I can source short metric bolt I can simply wind a bolt into its place but I think I will go for some Quicksteel if I can get a bolt that matches the thread of the “sump plug’
But that’s slightly good news now aslong ad I can source short metric bolt I can simply wind a bolt into its place but I think I will go for some Quicksteel if I can get a bolt that matches the thread of the “sump plug’
It’s hard to explain but imagine a normal sump plug with torx head somehow the Rox piece say around 5mm round has wound out if the main part of sump plug which has stayed in the sump
Can only guess it’s Part of the manufacturing process ?? Why would it do this otherwise very strange
Only thing as it’s only roughly 5mm long and doesn’t tighten against anything it can be would straight into the sump luckyilynit hasn’t but what I mean is would a bolt of same thread seal the hole enough as it was dripping out of this.
Which would give the best permanent repair
Chemical metal or Quicksteel for this area if I went down that route
Can only guess it’s Part of the manufacturing process ?? Why would it do this otherwise very strange
Only thing as it’s only roughly 5mm long and doesn’t tighten against anything it can be would straight into the sump luckyilynit hasn’t but what I mean is would a bolt of same thread seal the hole enough as it was dripping out of this.
Which would give the best permanent repair
Chemical metal or Quicksteel for this area if I went down that route
chriz1 said:
would a bolt of same thread seal the hole enough as it was dripping out of this.
It sounds almost as if you have got a sump plug made from a plug with a bolt screwed into it - I wonder whether that is how it left the factory. Thread sealant would give an oil tight seal as long as both parts are clean - which they may not be if the whole thing has oil dripping through it. PTFE tape would also seal it but wouldn't be affected by oily surfaces. Both of these would be temporary (removable) seals and let you undo the bolt later.I don't know whether you would expect to drain the oil by removing that bolt from the plug - if so, a temporary fix is what you want. On the other hand if you need to take the main part of the plug out to drain the oil, you would be better off bonding that bolt permanently to the plug in the hope it would be strong enough to undo the plug later. In that case the epoxy / liquid metal approach, or permanent thread seal, would be more suitable. If you take this route, make sure the bolt is strong enough and in good enough condition to take the torque needed to undo the plug.
I wonder if a previous owner has sheared the head off (bolt type) or rounded out the socket (torx, hex or square) of the original sump plug which is stuck in the hole & has then drilled & threaded a hole in the plug using whatever - sounds like a grub screw - they had to hand that matched the drill & tap they had in this new hole.
PTFE tape may well work on a new bolt or fit a new bolt to the hole, thoroughly clean the area with thinners or clutch & brake cleaner & smear RTV silicone over it all. I can say that both methods work.
ETA What engine is it?
PTFE tape may well work on a new bolt or fit a new bolt to the hole, thoroughly clean the area with thinners or clutch & brake cleaner & smear RTV silicone over it all. I can say that both methods work.
ETA What engine is it?
Edited by paintman on Friday 15th December 00:46
Little update failed to get a correct thread bolt today so went the permanent seal option as a short term fix
Bought some chemical metal and screwed the small part back into sump plug and spread the chemical metal over. So far so good been out for a spin got car upto temp and seems to be holding anyway will keep an eye on it as the weeks go by to make sure no leaks
Bought some chemical metal and screwed the small part back into sump plug and spread the chemical metal over. So far so good been out for a spin got car upto temp and seems to be holding anyway will keep an eye on it as the weeks go by to make sure no leaks
It might be too late now you've gone for the permanent seal option, but if and when you decide to tackle it again and if you can get the torx screw out of the sump plug again, you could try an easy-out extractor on the sump plug.
Be careful though because if the extractor snaps off flush with the sump plug, you really are in a fix and a replacement sump will be your only option.
Give the sump plug a few sharp cracks with a hammer before you begin and use the biggest, best quality extractor that will fit in the hole.
Be careful though because if the extractor snaps off flush with the sump plug, you really are in a fix and a replacement sump will be your only option.
Give the sump plug a few sharp cracks with a hammer before you begin and use the biggest, best quality extractor that will fit in the hole.
1979 - I'm an enthusiastic 15 "helping" my dad by doing an oil change on his Austin 18-22 series wedge while he has his post dinner snooze. I put the sump bolt back in and tighten it up...... Only it does not tighten..... Into the house to wake dad and tell him I think I have stripped the thread. No, says he, you would need to be superman. I go back out and give it another few turns. Oh oh. Dad takes over and removes the bolt. On these cars the sump is also the alloy gearbox casing. The bolt comes out along with the thread from the gearbox.
Dads solution - pick the alloy out of the bolts thread, wrap it in cloth bicycle handlebar tape, slather on some araldite - bodge done.
No more oil changes for that car.
Dads solution - pick the alloy out of the bolts thread, wrap it in cloth bicycle handlebar tape, slather on some araldite - bodge done.
No more oil changes for that car.
Edited by Yogioes on Saturday 16th December 22:36
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