Need Suggestions: Leaky Transfer Case Drain Plug....

[DEZLPWR]

I seem to have oil seeping from my transfer case drain plug... It is very slight, but annoying. The plug is torqued to spec @ 40 ft/lbs. (spec per service manual is 30-40ft/lbs). Any suggestions as to how I can stop the leak? I have ordered a new drain plug from Dave Smith Motors for $4 just in case. I am thinking about installing the new plug with some teflon tape on the threads. Would this be ok? Any other suggestions to help prevent leaks?

FWIW, I have the NV241 LD with Amsoil Universal ATF. (No, I am not blaming the Amsoil ATF for the leak, so let's not go there... )

 

[BK]

you may not want to blame the Amsoil for it, but I remember some threads of guys going to synthic rear oils and developing rear seal leaks!... I"m not saying that it's the Amsoil fault, more so that slippery stuff exposes some tolerance problems...



I know you can't use teflon on heating oil and diesel fuel. Both eat it up. Try keeping a strip of it in a cup of the oil for a few days and see what happens.

Other than that there are some other sealents you can use from form a gaskets, something that stays plyable... . doesnt harden.



I have the same TC, and I don't like the way the fill plug goes in. . couldnt make the torque spec . . it felt like it was gonna keep going in. I have not leaks. . but I think the torque spec was too high.

 

[DEZLPWR]

I hear you Bk...

I don't like the way the plug goes in either..... It does seem like it will just keep turning. I am guessing that I am @ 40 ft/lbs, but I could never get the wrench to "click" so who knows?

 

[BK]

I have a click style torque wrench too. . I tried it on another bolt to compare, when tightening the TC plugs, I wasn't coming anywhere near it. I don't remember if I backed off and came up on it. But it went in much further than it was before I took it out.



I had the same type of plug on the toyota TC's and they acted much better.

 

[Texas Diesel]

Here are my thoughts (look out), when I changed the transfer case fluid in my Dakotas (NV-231's) the drain plug would leak, no amount of tightening would stop it. Was discussing it with the dealer mechanic and he showed me a new un-installed plug, it had some silicone stuff in the threads. He said he always coats the threads with a small amount of black silicone before he reinstalls them. I have been doing it for 175k now and no leaks drips or anything ever. You might want to try it.

 

[DEZLPWR]

Thanks Texas Diesel...

I'll try some of that thread sealant.

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

Around 1996 dodge went from a straight thread plug with gasket to a M22 metric pipe plug. I think your 99 has the pipe plug. I use Permatex #2 to seal them. I don't torque them real tight because it cracks the aluminum threads in the case, and the P#2 hardens enough to keep the plug from vibrating loose.