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WestyWanter
Samba Member
Joined: February 15, 2017
Posts: 459
Location: San Diego
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 Posted: Tue Aug 15, 2017 5:44 pm Post subject: Mistakes... Drain plug leak? |
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| So I got lazy this past weekend and instead of doing my own oil change I took Penny (86 2.1L westy) to get an oil change at a locally owned shop. Long story short I noticed later that day and that she was just losing a few drops of oil over night on the drive way and maybe a drop during the day parked at work. So I tried to see if they didn't tighten the drain plug, and it just spun.... I'm thinking the stripped the bolt and now I'm not quite sure what to do, suggestions? |
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djkeev
Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32625
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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dobryan
Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2006
Posts: 16503
Location: Brookeville, MD
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Paulbeard
Samba Member
Joined: July 10, 2015
Posts: 2604
Location: Seattle
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| Posted: Tue Aug 15, 2017 9:01 pm Post subject: Re: Mistakes... Drain plug leak? |
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| dobryan wrote: |
And never let someone else change your oil. You didn't save any money and now you have to fix their mistake. Rant over.... 😀
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Even if you never learn to do anymore than this, it's worth learning and doing on your schedule. Gives you a chance to look things over, check other fluids…
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Currently -> Frida: 87 Tizian Red (mostly) Vanagon GL Westfalia w/ 2.0L ABA conversion
Formerly -> Steward of a 73 Super Beetle (Beater) and 67 Beetle 1300 (Little Max) both names by POs
— dhaavers |
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dobryan
Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2006
Posts: 16503
Location: Brookeville, MD
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| Posted: Tue Aug 15, 2017 9:54 pm Post subject: Re: Mistakes... Drain plug leak? |
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Old story... back in '74 we were on a cross country camping trip in our '71 bus and some where out west it was time for an oil change. My dad dutifully went to a garage in the town we happened to be in and had them change the oil since he was into regular maintenance although he didn't know which end of a wrench to hold. About 200 miles later the tranny was making horrible noises and he pulled into a gas station, they fould that the tranny was dry and the engine was overfilled by a few quarts. I was given that bus a couple years later and the run dry tranny was still going strong at 220,000 miles before I swapped it out.
Moral of the story is to do your own regular maintenance. 😀
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Dave O
'87 Westy w/ 2002 Subaru EJ25 and Peloquin TBD
"To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive." Robert Louis Stevenson
MD>Canada>AK>WA>OR>CA>AZ>UT>WY>SD
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=620646
Building a bus for travel in Europe (euroBus)
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=695371
The Western Syncro build
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=746794 |
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WestyWanter
Samba Member
Joined: February 15, 2017
Posts: 459
Location: San Diego
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| Posted: Wed Aug 16, 2017 3:36 am Post subject: Re: Mistakes... Drain plug leak? |
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| Its not that I don't know how to change my oil, just my current situation I got lazy with it and thought it wouldn't be a huge deal, its changing oil, not the most complicated task on the world. |
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the joker
Samba Member
Joined: October 12, 2006
Posts: 1287
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| Posted: Wed Aug 16, 2017 6:11 am Post subject: Re: Mistakes... Drain plug leak? |
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Last time I went for state inspection  asked if I could drive on the machine, of course the answer was no , we can handle it , only to watch the idiot , almost take out the slider on a parking post  , jumped up from the waiting room ,yelled a bunch of profanities , and ended up DRIVING ON THE INSPECTION MACHINE, also had to inform the tech , that the engine is in the rear, wish I could do my own state insp.  |
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djkeev
Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32625
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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| Posted: Wed Aug 16, 2017 6:28 am Post subject: Re: Mistakes... Drain plug leak? |
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I was in auto repair for decades, dealership and private shops.
Sadly, the entry level job is changing oil. Any new guy goes there first.
Now, it is grilled into them to NOT have a leak and destroy an engine.
So, an oil filter is screwed on until it touches then 1/4 turn more.. right?
Nope! it's screw it on as TIGHT as a human hand will tighten it.
Oil plugs, they have torque specs and they are fairly low. So, what is done to ward of a plug falling out?
Make it as tight as humanly possible!
If you are going to have service done by a shop, an oil change may actually be THE one service most likely to give you a problem like this. Inexperienced people working for very low pay and being pushed to hurry up and get it done ASAP.
FYI, change the oil yourself. Buy an oil drain pan and funnel on the road. Change it in an auto parts store parking lot or somewhere close by. Bring the old oil back to them to be recycled.
Yeah........ Do it yourself.
Dave
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Ghia
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=392473
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http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=6315537#6315537
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https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=482968&highlight=74+super+vert |
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mikemtnbike
Samba Member
Joined: March 26, 2015
Posts: 2796
Location: North Carolina
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| Posted: Wed Aug 16, 2017 7:13 am Post subject: Re: Mistakes... Drain plug leak? |
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I've had to do the engine is in the back thing for state inspection too. Same visit had to tell the tech three times there was no OBD. Like, literally
Tech: Where's the OBD?
Me: There isn't any.
Tech: That can't be right. Where's the OBD?
Me: There isn't any.
Tech: I don't know if I can do the inspection. Can't be right. Where's the OBD?
Me: Well, there isn't any. You do know (in NC) I'm exempt for emissions and you're only doing a safety inspection, right?
Tech: Oh.
That said, I have no problem taking my van to a specialty shop when I'm stumped. She's there right now. I'm am amateur wannabe mechanic and sometimes I need an expert's eyes and knowledge base. Count myself pretty lucky to have local options who know what they're doing. .
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1991 Vanagon GL 2.1 AT Westfauxlia. "Frankie" Totaled  https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=764510&highlight=carnage
1995 Eurovan Camper "Marzivan"
2020 GTI SE manual |
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IdahoDoug
Samba Member
Joined: June 12, 2010
Posts: 10250
Location: N. Idaho
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| Posted: Wed Aug 16, 2017 1:42 pm Post subject: Re: Mistakes... Drain plug leak? |
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Dave, that there is an important point and one we should all remember.
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1987 2WD Wolfsburg Vanagon Weekender "Mango", two fully locked 80 Series LandCruisers. 2017 Subaru Outback boxer. 1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20V with rear locking differential, 1990 burgundy parts Vanagon. 1984 Porsche 944, 1988 Toyota Supra 5 speed targa, 2002 BMW 325iX, 1982 Toyota Sunrader |
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Wildthings
Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005
Posts: 50348
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| Posted: Thu Aug 17, 2017 4:20 am Post subject: Re: Mistakes... Drain plug leak? |
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| Years ago I ran a shop maintaining in house on and off road equipment. I eventually took on doing the lubrication service on all the equipment myself, assuming I had time to do so. This got the job done with the minimum amount of screwups and let me crawl around each piece of equipment and test drive them on a periodic basis. |
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