oil drain plug missing!

[schroe]

I have been driving my my van for about 6000km now so I thought it would be time for a small service.
However when getting underneath for my oil change I had a small suprise, turns out my oil drain plug is replaced by a kind of 'engine sealant'.
I know, I should have paid more attention to this when buying my van (it was just serviced with some new parts and it ran like a clock so I didn't do a thorough check, stupid me!) but I haven't had any problems whatsoever so I don't think I have a major problem here.
However some questions:
- how do I remove this stuff?
- is this a common thing to do? (i.e. can I expect other nasty surprises when removing it)
- Where can I order a new washer/plug? (I'm from belgium so preferably an internet shop from Germany/Netherlands)
thanks and a merry christmass and a happy vanyear to all of you!

Pieter

[Oldiebut goodie]

I would have thought that if someone has done that either the threads will be stripped or it's cracked around the hole. I would not remove it without having means of resealing. I doubt that just a new plug and washer would be required here.

[Mickyfin]

Im guessing that a previous owner may of ripped the thread for the sump plug, thus bodging it as it is. Look like to me that you will need a new sump.

[pauly8888]

Agreeing with Mickey and Oldie. Be ready to probably replace the sump.
I doubt the previous owner put all that sealant there just because there's a copper washer missing.

[kevtherev]

no removable sump on a petrol engine, it's all one casting

use the tool machine mart sells to get the oil out of the filler pipe

[edoh]

'no need to remove the drain plug' -


http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/range ... extractors" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[bootie3367]

Mmm?? It may be possible to 'helicoil' depending on how bad the damage is.
Another method is 'lumiweld' if it's a suitable alloy, seen this done for motorbike head bolts. The bolt is held in place nice and straight and the molten alloy is dribbled in so it gets to the bottom of the casting hole, the steel bolt never gets hot enough for the alloy weld to take to it but the molten alloy is liquid enough to take the thread, wait for it to cool down enough to remove the bolt, clean up a bit with a thread chaser and job done.
I admit it might be a tad more difficult with the engine in situ, unless you have a gravity reversing machine handy!

I think if I was going for the 'remove oil from the filler hole' scenario, I would still have something better than that lump of goo stuck there!

Looks like it could be Belzona or even Devcon judging by the composition and colour, still wouldn't trust it in the long term though.

JM2PW

Jon

[Oldiebut goodie]

Devcon is wicked! I used some to repair a piston once - lasted for donkey's years. Bloody expensive though - around the £50 mark for the aluminium.

[bootie3367]

Really?! That much! I never knew, we have boxes and boxes of the 5 minute epoxy out here on the rig...... might have to invest in a couple or three tubes then

[Oldiebut goodie]

The standard epoxy is cheap enough - it's the steel and aluminium ones that are pricey.

[Ralf85]

It might not be so bad. I had a drain plug problem. It is common with aluminium sumps. The thread gets knackered over time. Previous owner fitted a helicoil which is only a temporary fix really. Anyway I got an oversized sump plug and copper washer, I think from Citroen. Had the sump hole re-threaded and new plug fits perfectly. Brickwerks offers a larger plug too. I am sure I found the advice I followed on the wicki. Good luck.

Patrick

[kevtherev]

an m16 plug from a renault will work once the old hole is drilled to m 14.5 and tapped to m16 X 1.5 standard

this assumes the surrounding area is in good order.
personally I'd use another method of oil removal, and leave what works well alone.

after all you didn't see it till it was too late anyway