Oil Drain Plug Stripped

[msark]

Had my 97 Tahoe for 2 months and it a nightmare of repairs with only 85,000 miles! .... Now I find the oil drain plug stripped and in the pan with 2 rubber washers and rtv... Is there a simple repair or is it a new pan? Thanks...

[Jsdirt]

Couple ways to tackle this:

 

You can install an oversized drain plug ... which is just a couple thousandths or more over the original. This is your cheapest way out. ... OR ...

 

Find the size & thread pitch of the hole & buy the appropriate Helicoil. Put lots of grease around the hole before drilling to catch the metal fragments ... and maybe pour some cheap oil in just to wash out any that may have found their way in, then install the Helicoil. This is the most expensive, but the best way out. .... OR ...

 

If your on a budget you could tap the pan one size larger. Before you do that though, make sure there's a short flange bolt available in that size. A hex bolt will leak, even with a new gasket. It needs the round, even surface of a flange bolt, like the original, to keep from leaking.

[Duelin]

http://www.cgenterprises.com/drain_plugs_oversize_repair.htm

[jwhuber]

Couple ways to tackle this:

 

You can install an oversized drain plug ... which is just a couple thousandths or more over the original. This is your cheapest way out. ... OR ...

 

Find the size & thread pitch of the hole & buy the appropriate Helicoil. Put lots of grease around the hole before drilling to catch the metal fragments ... and maybe pour some cheap oil in just to wash out any that may have found their way in, then install the Helicoil. This is the most expensive, but the best way out. .... OR ...

 

If your on a budget you could tap the pan one size larger. Before you do that though, make sure there's a short flange bolt available in that size. A hex bolt will leak, even with a new gasket. It needs the round, even surface of a flange bolt, like the original, to keep from leaking.

 

 

2nd option is probably your best best. All your doing is enlarging the major diameter of the hole, re-tapping the hole (same thread pitch, just larger) and installing the helicoil. If you go this route I would get a helcoil that is self locking, not free running. It has a "locking" feature inside that ensures is won't back out.

[beer]

Had my 97 Tahoe for 2 months and it a nightmare of repairs with only 85,000 miles! .... Now I find the oil drain plug stripped and in the pan with 2 rubber washers and rtv... Is there a simple repair or is it a new pan? Thanks...

 

 

i ve seen a rubber plug that can plug the hole this is the les expensive way to go,i got mine at canadian tire you should be able to find something in youre area