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

Sun May 17, 2009 9:54 am

I have no problem fitting a 1" socket ($.25 at a yard sale) over the bolt head. It drains a lot faster. The magnet picked up a little stuff after my rebuild.

Sun May 17, 2009 10:00 am

true, but you should see the size of some of the drain plug fixes I have seen. Had to remove one w/ a hammer and chisle cause there wasn't a socket made that fit the sucker. I am in the middle of tapping all my galleys for NPT plugs and have all the tools lyeing around to make a NPT drain plug, all I would need is a magnetic plug to make it perfect.

Mon May 18, 2009 9:15 am

So, just to confirm, is the stock drain plug M12x1.5 or M14x1.5?

Thanks in advance!

Sun Aug 09, 2009 8:58 am

Well I seem to have the same exact problem! Over half of the threads are gone. I have temporarily switched to a rubber universal plug and driving the least I can.

It was horrible...I had my bus on a lift, began to do an oil change and when I went to put the plug back in it just kept on turning. I was attempting to figure out what I was going to due as the hobby shop was going to be closing in 45min. At that time storm sirens started going off. I left the plug in, dropped the bus off of the lift and had my friend push me out (Don't have reverse). It started raining and one of the hobby shop guys pushed me to a parking spot with an atv. My friend and I left disappointed and we made a last minute decision to go to the auto parts store which had extended hours at the time to see if anyone could push us in the right direction. That was when we discovered the rubber universal drain plug. We drove back out to the hobby shop ironically making a wrong turn somewhere because we came across a beautiful Orange/White bay window. Once we got back to my bus it instantly began to storm. It was raining so hard and as soon as I was on my back putting the new plug in it started to lighting real bad as well! :shock: Finally after getting completely drenched, I got it going and strictly monitored my oil pressure gauge all of the way home. It was pretty crazy...

So what is the best turn of action, re-tapping?
I have never re-tapped a hole before so I am a little worried about doing that.

Sun Aug 09, 2009 12:14 pm

Self tapping, M12x1.5 single oversize drain plug (similar to this - http://www.clipsandfasteners.com/M12_1_50_Single_Oversize_Oil_Drain_Plug_p/a20759.htm) from my local FLAPS. Came with it's own crush washer. Threaded in halfway, removed, cleaned the threads, threaded in all the way, removed, cleaned the threads, threaded back in, torqued to spec, no leaks since. Yay.

Good luck!!!

Mon Aug 10, 2009 8:48 am

sounds like a plan!

Mon Aug 17, 2009 8:57 pm

Hey hoboe,

How'd things turn out?

And are you cruising up for this?: www.bnnta.com

Sat Aug 22, 2009 11:03 am

It went well. threaded in nicely, didn't have a single problem. cleaned off all of the metal shards and flushed with oil.

Mon Nov 02, 2009 11:32 pm

Using an existing thread... :wink:

Ok, so I was changing my oil the other day for teh 4th time on this new/used block and out came this! :shock: In the past three months I've never noticed the heli-coil...Keep in mind this is all happening in a hotel parking lot.

Why anyone would go to the trouble of re-tapping the OG M12 1.5 threads to M14 1.5 and then installing a freaking heli-coil is beyond me, (DO NOT EVER DO THIS) when it's only a $4 part for the M14 plug..... In any case, I got fairly lucky as there were enough decent threads left...

I bought an aftermarket 'longer' M14 1.5 drain plug and it seems to be catching a fair amount of threads.

But for the past 500 miles I sure am keeping my eye on that idiot light more than usual...

I'm thinking of going the 3/8" NPT route...it just looks so clean installed.(see page one) I'm assuming I can just tap it "as is" since the drill size for a 3/8" NPT is 9/16". Is that correct?

Mon Nov 02, 2009 11:42 pm

37/64" which is just a tad larger than your 9/16". Close enough for what you are doing.

Mon Nov 02, 2009 11:49 pm

Desertbusman wrote: Close enough for what you are doing.
That's my motto! :wink: