Oil pan bolt

[aclone]

I finally had do something about my oil pan bolt. I was starting to feel like I owned a harley little oil drips everywhere I parked.
Pulled the plug and as I did the old threads came out in little pices. The fix, I re tapped the oil pan used a 1/2  20 fine thread  tap bought a 3/4   1/2" 20  Bolt at ace and a flat rubber washer also 1/2 ".   The strange thing was as I was tapping out the whole it seemed to  pulled the oil out of the pan and wash the metal shavings down the flutes in the tap. I also ran 2 qt of oil through with the plug off and found no metal in it .  So far so good and no more drips.

[MacKilty]

I highly recommend changing the crush washer every change. From my local dealer they are .30 cents, and have not had that single drip every 500 miles issue since doing it.

[aclone]

Thanks will start with the gasket and let you know.

[chief]

There's a drain plug crush washer (gasket) that needs to be replaced every so often. If you haven't done that, I'd get a new one and torque the drain plug appropriately.

[49Reo]

If it is a worst case scenario, pan stripped and not the plug, you can heli-coil the pan; this entails drilling the drain hole over-size, tapping that hole, then installing the heli-coil. You will then have the drain hole back to the original size, with new threads. This is something you can do yourself with a drill and tap wrench; the hel-coils are available at industrial supply outlets. Hopefully it is only a stripped plug; if it is, it would be advisable to run a tap in the drain hole to straighten any damaged threads as well.

Good luck; let us know what you find.

Regards and such,
49Reo

[1SG CAV]

I would float the cost of some new oil. Pull the bolt and check the threads, both on the bolt and the hole. That way it just might only need a new flat washer. Good luck. I praying for ya.

Ride with pride.

[aclone]

Changed my oil and tighten the pan bolt, but not to tight as not to strip the threads.  Must got it to tight! as I ride the bolt losen a little I have a very small drip.  I cant get the bolt to tighten up it goes up snug but keeps turning. Is their another choice beside retapping the hole to the next size?    Maybe it's time buy another torque wrench!

Thanks