Why do the easy jobs never go smooth... OIL CHANGE WOES

[crazyhorse]

Merry Christmas all.

After driving a good 1000 miles back and forth over the holidays (with no problems) whilst at my father in law's I decided to do an oil change. It's been at least 3000 miles since Steve at Gasure fitted the engine so I thought I would treat it to a Christmas present. Had a look on the wiki and bought all the stuff needed.

Not feeling confident enough to do it myself, I managed to rope my father in Law to supervise as he seemed pretty confident.

Well, its all gone Pete Tong!!! Looking under the van there was an oil leak coming from the gearbox to the engine. A seal he told me. Not sure how long this has been like this as I check the oil level every week and it sits just above the min mark. Anyhow thats a different story and I will post about this after I sort my more pressing issue.

Basically after discussions about clockwise and anti clockwise we turned the sump plug the wrong way and have wrecked the plug. Undoing the plug it just goes around and around. It wont tighten up and it wont come off. 'Is it safe to drive a 100 miles back to South Wales' I asked him. 'Well we cant get it off so I suppose it is' he said. We made it back, and no oil has come out of it and the sump plug is still there. Oil is coming from the leak at around the gearbox but not much.

It turns freely by hand but wont tighten up or wont come off.

Between us we have managed to do a right balls up here... any suggestions apart from shouting loudly and drinking heavily

sorry for the long message

[itchyfeet]

Not used them myself but you can buy pumps to remove engine oil
mechanics use them for speed and so they can't be blamed for damaging old sump plug threads.
if it doesn't leak then one option is to buy a pump to remove old oil and just leave the plug.
refil as normal.

e.g.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/12V-DC-Oil-Di ... Swt6ZWT9Cy" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

also possible to remove oil filler tube to drain oil.

[kevtherev]

Vacuum pump it out from the dipstick tube.
Not uncommon.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B003G2 ... ref=plSrch" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[itchyfeet]

Next time you are confused remember the kitchen tap

[crazyhorse]

Thanks chaps.

Should I just leave the plug now in the hope it never leaks??

[itchyfeet]

Your choice
you can find a specialist/garage to remove it and fit a helicoil or insert or leave it.

[kevtherev]

You need to fix it really
I wouldn't feel comfortable with that bomb waiting to go off.

But for now you can change the oil and move it around.

[itchyfeet]

I wouldn't feel comfortable with that bomb waiting to go off.

Me neither I would fix it but at the end of the day it's your van and it may never just fall out.
My first DG had a sump plug just the same when I bought it, reinforced with some silicone.

[crazyhorse]

Done,

Took it to the garage. Sorted now. Refitted snug as a bug £70

[kevtherev]

You can't just say that

what did they do?
This is a forum!

[itchyfeet]

Check they didn't just fit an old snapped off spark plug in the hole

[crazyhorse]

ooopppsss.

Sorry. Didnt think that would be enough

Not the best pic, but you get the general idea

[itchyfeet]

Can you actually get a socket on that sump plug?
if not how is it torqued up?

Standard sump plug has a smaller hex.

[Oldiebut goodie]

Box spanner will go on easier than a socket usually in a tight space like that.

[itchyfeet]

How do you torque a box spanner?