Don't over-tighten drain plugs

DanH

Legacy Member

Mentor

• Jun 16, 2014

• #1

Classic error...the gorilla who installed this oil drain plug extruded the aluminum sealing ring, the result being a slow leak. This is a car, but the same principle applies to various seal rings on your Lycoming.

 

Last edited: Jun 16, 2014

D

dealfair

Well Known Member

• Jun 16, 2014

• #2

RIGHT!!!

Ditto Dan. I've been down that road with autos and is the very reason I do my own oil changes!!!

 

wirejock

Well Known Member

• Jun 17, 2014

• #3

Oil change

dealfair said:

Ditto Dan. I've been down that road with autos and is the very reason I do my own oil changes!!!

Click to expand...

+1
No one touches my vehicles unless it's beyond my capabilities. That hasn't happened yet.
The exception is warranty and recall work.

 

Last edited: Jun 17, 2014

R

rightrudder

Well Known Member

• Jun 17, 2014

• #4

Nasty. I'd bet the same shop torques the wheel lug nuts to 300 ft-lb with an impact gun when the spec calls for 95. I won't let a dealer, or even an independent mechanic near my car.

 

RV6_flyer

Well Known Member

Benefactor

• Jun 17, 2014

• #5

On Ex-Wife's car, I found the drain plug CROSS THREADED the first time I changed the oil. Fortunately Toyota was smart enough to make the thread in the pan harder than the plug. New plug worked fine without needing to re-tap or replace the hole in the pan.