TheSamba.com :: View topic - Oil Drain Stripped threads, Plug replacement?

Mon Apr 09, 2007 7:01 pm

Hi All,

The last fool who owned my bus before me stripped the threads in the oil drain of my 1977 2.0L.

There are still good threads higher up the hole but the stubby stock drain plug can't reach.

My easiest option is to find a longer bolt with the same threads. Has anyone tried this??

I thought about having the engine shop fill the hole with a weld and I can tap it out to take the plug again but I don't want to spend the cash.

Other than that, its going to be a bigger diameter tap with pipe threads and a 3/8in plug from home depot.

Mon Apr 09, 2007 7:07 pm

I wouldn't trust it to hold using the leftover threads. Can't you replace the whole plate cheaper than welding it?

It's kind of ironic. I had to replace my drain plug and plate in a hotel parking lot in Santa Fe last summer. NM must be hard on these things...

Rob

Mon Apr 09, 2007 7:10 pm

It would suck big time if that sucker worked it's way loose. :(

Mon Apr 09, 2007 7:11 pm

My drain isn't in a plate, it's cast in the sump. There is also the strainer and the sump cover which is fine. I'll probably end up permanently plugging the drain and just do oil changes through the strainer, like in a 1600 bug engine.

There are still about 1/2in of threads up there. The plug isn't load bearing, I bet it would hold. Then again, I don't want to be in the middle of nowhere with no oil.

The case is cast aluminum in the 2.0L. I need to see if it is too pricey to put a weld in, aluminum is tricky to weld I hear

Mon Apr 09, 2007 8:02 pm

NUKETROOP wrote: I bet it would hold.

Sounds like you know what you want to do. Go for it. Let us know how it goes.

Mon Apr 09, 2007 8:50 pm

Longer plugs are definitely available, but I can not give you a source off hand. It actually sounds like you may have had a shorter than stock plug to start with.

Mon Apr 09, 2007 9:47 pm

I have the same problem, and I got one of these to rectify the situation. I haven't put it on yet, the directions that came with it was a photocopy of very sloppy hand writing. Oh well, I'll figure it out. :)

http://www2.cip1.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=C15%2D50020

Tue Apr 10, 2007 4:41 pm

NUKETROOP wrote: My drain isn't in a plate, it's cast in the sump.
Oh, dude, sorry about my Type 4 ignorance...I forgot about that.

Rob

Tue Apr 10, 2007 5:25 pm

I retapped the hole in mine as I had stripped it.
I went with a 1/2" fine thread as that was the only tap I had that was big enough of what I had in the garage. It works, but I wish I had gone a little smaller as the socket barely fits inside that little depression. No ill effects for 5 + years. As a side note, use lots of grease on the tap so most of the case filings will stick to the tap instead of the inside of your crank case. I believe I even flushed a half quart of oil through it to ensure most of the filings came out.
good luck

Tue Apr 10, 2007 8:51 pm

I got tired of the straight threads stripping all the time and just tapped my case for a taper pipe thread, no leaks now.

Phil

Wed Apr 11, 2007 5:53 am

musktchup wrote: I retapped the hole in mine as I had stripped it.
I went with a 1/2" fine thread as that was the only tap I had that was big enough of what I had in the garage. It works, but I wish I had gone a little smaller as the socket barely fits inside that little depression. No ill effects for 5 + years. As a side note, use lots of grease on the tap so most of the case filings will stick to the tap instead of the inside of your crank case. I believe I even flushed a half quart of oil through it to ensure most of the filings came out.
good luck

The VW Type 4 engine-oil drain plug-hole thread size, is a HeliCoil for an M12 x 1·5 mm threaded drain plug. When the HeliCoil is stripped out, one will probably discover that the residual threaded hole, is an M14 x 1·5 mm thread, which is the same thread size as the VW Type 2 wheel-bolts and nuts, plus the VW Type 1 engines' oil drain plug. One can certainly obtain VDO oil-pressure gauge-senders with this thread size.

If the threads are too badly stripped and the hole enlarged, one could retap and use an M16 x 1·5 mm plug, such as is used for the oil-pressure control valve, just below the pushrod tubes.

Regards.

Nigel A. Skeet

Wed Apr 11, 2007 6:19 am

someone put a helicoil in mine :( it leaks... but not bad enough that i am gonna fix it

Thu Apr 26, 2007 10:55 am

Well I went to the local VW parts place and got a different plug. It has a longer shaft and fits well. That with the crush washer that came in the new gasket set should solve my woes.

Once the engine is back in and fired up I'll see if it leaks.

Sat May 16, 2009 4:17 pm

I'm resurrecting this thread because I changed my oil today and found that the drain plug ('79 Westy) came out a little bit too easy and then wouldn't tighten up because the threads in the case are stripped.

After I get fixed, I was wondering about installing one of these so that I'll never have to worry about stripping the threads again. Anyone ever used one and what is the general consensus from everyone?

No flames please, just curious....

http://www.qwikvalve.com/home.php

Sat May 16, 2009 4:23 pm

phil - what is this and where did you find one with fins like that? Is this a home machined part?

Sat May 16, 2009 4:44 pm

BUGSTUFF wrote: I'm resurrecting this thread because I changed my oil today and found that the drain plug ('79 Westy) came out a little bit too easy and then wouldn't tighten up because the threads in the case are stripped.

After I get fixed, I was wondering about installing one of these so that I'll never have to worry about stripping the threads again. Anyone ever used one and what is the general consensus from everyone?

No flames please, just curious....

http://www.qwikvalve.com/home.php

Kinda cool, but one stray branch or rut when getting to the perfect camping spot and it's suddenly a long walk home.

Sat May 16, 2009 5:53 pm

SGKent wrote: phil - what is this and where did you find one with fins like that? Is this a home machined part?

Steve, that is one my machined inspection plates (taco plate ) for mounting the oil temp. sender, the one pictured is the old style.
Check my gallery images .

Sun May 17, 2009 8:27 am

hmmm, that npt plug for a drain plug is a pretty cool idea. should I upgrade my case before I put it together, or is it a step backwards. curious to hear from anyone whos done it.

Sun May 17, 2009 9:10 am

This is what I did.

I bought a 1/2" npt drain plug for tractors from a parts place that sells parts for tractors. Then had the hole drilled and tapped for that thread.

Check these out http://www.magneticdrainplug.com/automotive.html

Sun May 17, 2009 9:47 am

I like the idea of NPT because it eliminates changing a copper washer, which reiles on scary torque to seal at times, you don't need to worry about bad sealing surfaces, etc. I may just do it. also good because allen keys are easy to fit if the plug is really oversized, ulnike those huge hex heads that make it hard to fit a wrench in.