Club 80-90 Forums

Oil change this evening. Dropped oil, nothing unusual except the plug was tight all the way out. Didn't think much of it, but went to refit and it wouldn't tighten. I was so very damn careful, as always, to make sure it was going in straight. Pulled it back out again and this lot came with it:
(that's the old copper washer - I was using a new one going back in)


That makes me very sad indeed cleaning and poking at it confirms now have a very smooth sump plug hole. What is this second washer looking thing that's come out with it? It's a very soft metal. Is it proof of some previous repair? (hoping to be able to blame last guy )

I'm reading a lot about helicoiling it to fix this, but I've not done this before. It doesn't seem too complicated, is this the on-your-back upside-down driveway repair that I'm looking at performing?

It really is true that nothing is as simple as it first seems with these vehicles.

Borrow my helicoil kit if you like? Collect it from basingstoke during the day or i can post it
ghost123uk has just finished with it, one coil left and he sent me the drill also so everything you need

pm me if yoh want it

Pm sent! Thanks very much.

That's what I love about this forum.....

fairwynds wrote:That's what I love about this forum.....

Agree with that!

Paul, unless you have added one, there isn't a spare coil left. The first one (of the two) had to be removed as it was too tight, The thread was then re-reamed a couple of times and the other coil was fitted. You did mention that spare ones are not too hard to find, though I couldn't find the correct ones on Ebay (is it 14mm x 1.5 pitch?). Plenty of kits, but no spare coils

btw, the reason the first attempt was a bit tight is because the drill bit should really be 14.25mm, which is (handily) 9/16", rather than the 14mm I had (and is now in the box). Obviously it worked, but just needed a bit of extra reaming in and out to get it "right".

ghost123uk wrote:Paul, unless you have added one, there isn't a spare coil left. The first one (of the two) had to be removed as it was too tight, The thread was then re-reamed a couple of times and the other coil was fitted. You did mention that spare ones are not too hard to find, though I couldn't find the correct ones on Ebay (is it 14mm x 1.5 pitch?). Plenty of kits, but no spare coils

btw, the reason the first attempt was a bit tight is because the drill bit should really be 14.25mm, which is (handily) 9/16", rather than the 14mm I had (and is now in the box). Obviously it worked, but just needed a bit of extra reaming in and out to get it "right".

Err well there were three in the box when i sent it and one in there now
the one left has the tang and looks unused, , i doubt you can get them out in one piece anyway

available on ebay, just orderd some more
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/M14-X-1-5-V-C ... 418079298c" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

itchyfeet wrote: Err well there were three in the box when i sent it and one in there now. The one left has the tang and looks unused

Ah, that's ok then

itchyfeet wrote:available on ebay, just orderd some more
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/M14-X-1-5-V-C ... 418079298c" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Doh I must have used a daft search string

If the 14 was too small then I'll get a 14.25 or 9/16 bit and add that to the kit

Fear not, you're not alone. The first bit of maintenance I did on my van ended up with me encountering the same sump plug symptoms as yourself.

If you need any help with this, just shout. I owe the 'community' a favour or three!!

Don't forget to buy a low range torque wrench too, the threads are probably broken because somebody over tightened it in the past.
25Nm
in the post today should arrive tomorrow