Club 80-90 Forums

did an oil change today but stupidly tightend the sump plug insted of loosening it to start. after draining the oil and then refitting the sump plug i seem to have an small oil drip around the plug. i did not have it before. is this just that i have cleaned out the crap from under neath thus leading to an small oil leak, or have i fxxked the plug compleatly?

Did you replace the copper crush washer ?

If you did not then it will leak..

no i did not it looked fine. so if i get a new one do you think that could solve the problem?

As long as you haven't stripped the thread.

Hi. My sump plug was knackered too. My garage bored out a new thread and I bought a larger plug to fit. If your thread is damaged there is info on the forum about how to sort this out. Good luck.

Patrick

i have read the forums but what i dont know is how i tell if i have damaged the thread?

The sump bung washer crushes and seals and should be changed each time the bung is removed. Lets face it...at about 20p it's just not worth the hassel re-using one and then finding it leaks.

Martin

The passenger wrote:i have read the forums but what i dont know is how i tell if i have damaged the thread?

Well if you have used a new copper washer and it still leaks then the thread is the problem. It does wear out over time as the aluminum sump is soft metal that gets damaged after years of tightening after oil changes.

Patrick

cool thanks guys

As long as you are able to correctly tighten the bung it doesn't really matter that the threads are a little worn. Hot oil is very 'searching' and will find it's way past even new sump threads hence the importance of a new sump bung sealing washer on every oil change.

Martin

..and tight is finger tight plus a 1/2 turn

why people tighten them till they grunt is beyond me

kevtherev wrote:..and tight is finger tight plus a 1/2 turn

why people tighten them till they grunt is beyond me

Exactly!

Tight enough to crush the 'new' washer so it forms a seal.....be aware that the bung is steel and the sump is aluminium alloy.. so this is a hard metal into a softer metal hence the reason for restraint.
There is a sump bung torque setting only I haven't got access to look ATM.
Martin

25Nm(18ft-lb)

wow really? ..that's a lot.
I'll stick to half a grunt

Got to admit kev.I use the grunt method myself.