Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Oil Drain plug leak (WTFO)

[IWeiny]

I have read through the posts about this problem and I tried replacing the drain plug last night when I changed the oil. I did not over torque the plug (30 inch #), maybe not enough?



And it is still leaking. Did the dealer mess up my oil pan? This really upsets me to say the least. My drive looks like a F'ing oil field and everything from the pan back has oil sprayed on it from this leak. I am getting ready to put "the right stuff" on the plug next time but I don't know if that will work well for this application. New gaskets every oil change since the dealer messed it up has never fixed it.



Thanks for letting me vent,

 

[Chris N5CWM]

It may be time for a new oil pan at the dealer's expense!



I had a quick-change up in Maine during the winter of '89 on my old ex-patrol car Ford Clown Vic. The pan has 2 plugs. They managed to strip one out and I didn't find out until I was back home in North Carolina. Sux big time. Glad the plug didn't back out or fall out on the way home.



Hope you get it figured out soon.

 

[Hohn]

Sounds like a pretty good reason to do your own oil chnages.....



jlh

 

[Chris N5CWM]

That was the first and last time I had someone else change my oil.

Being 1,900 miles from home with snow on the ground and 5 degrees F outside, I figured I'd let someone else take the dripping slush in the face. Hard lesson to learn!



I have a tough time trusting someone to do something as simple as rotate tires. I always end up re-torqing the lug nuts and usually find some that are way too tight or loose. It's a shame there are so many crooks and idiots out there. Once in a while I find someone that really cares and that I can trust. You just can't tell until the work is done and by then it's usually too late.

 

[JR2]

I solved the problem of drain plug by replacing it with a plug with a valve in it. That way all the moron at the quickie lube has to do is open the valve. I usually have to tell them how to do it and I always check it when there done. Another thing they forget to do is to tighten up the oil filter, I drove about 50 miles with a loose filter and man did it make a mess.

 

[Jack in Alaska]

Drain plug

I had a different moron try to unscrew my quickee drain plug because he could not get it open.

 

[kscheffler]

THe problem is likely just the drain plug washer. If they install it wrong side out it will leak. I change my own oil and if I don't install the washer the correct way it will leak every time. I think you want the rubber side up to the pan. But maybe some else can verify. I just now make sure that I put it on the same way it comes off... kts