Oil Pan Discovery

[DBuchheit]

On the second to last oil change I installed an EZ drain plug from Geno's. The next time I changed the oil, I noticed that I couldn't add as much oil as before, about a quart less. I suspected that the EZ plug stuck up above the bottom of the pan, keeping all of the oil from draining. My plan was to remove the plug next time, measure the thickness of the pan and make a spacer so that the top of the plug was flush with the bottom of the pan.



Today I changed the oil again and removed the EZ plug after draining as much oil as I could using the drain tube. When I did remove the plug, I noticed that the remaing oil came out in 4 separate streams. When I check into the cause, I found that the threaded insert in the bottom of the pan is cross drilled close to the bottom.



I don't know if anyone else has discovered this, but it means that a different approach must be taken to design a quick drain plug that will drain the pan completely.



I put the stock plug back in and I guess I'll get a Super Plug to keep in reserve.

 

[DonBaggett]

There was a thread about this a couple of months back. Somebody said they drained some holes in the top of the new plug to allow all the oil in the pain to drain.

 

[EMDDIESEL]

Thats the exact reason i wont use anything but a drain plug that is completley removed. Drilling holes in the side of the drain valve insert will help though, But there is only so big a hole you can drill and even then, sediment can still clog them. Just my 2c

 

[DieselB59]

I had one too and since have re-installed my OEM plug because there is just too much oil left in the engine. And this is also the bottom of the pan, which is what you want to empty out the most. I looked into drilling it out, but there is as EMD said only so big a hole you could drill and by the design of the pan, still too high to allow the oil to drain properly. The plug is a good plug and a great idea, but if they could just design it so that the fitting that opens inside is a little further lower, it would be able to be solved by drilling.

 

[EMDDIESEL]

The best way you could eliminate the problem with the threads of the drain valve basically being too long and therefore creating a "Dam" that keeps some of the oil from coming out would be to find out the EXACT thickness from the bottom of the inside of the pan, to the outside plug sealing surface. Then, grind or use a high speed sander and make the part that threads into the pan the same length as the pan is thick. This way, once you install the valve and torque it into place, it will be flush with the bottom of the oil pan.

Maybe one day ill try it. In the mean time, ill just stick with a drain plug and latex glove, loosen the plug and let it drain for 10 minutes, then take the plug all the way out and wait 10 more and this way i am sure i got ALL the oil out of the pan.

 

[BIG BOB]

I posted the pictures of the way I drill out my Finger Touch drain plug. I noticed the baffle in the bottom of the pan when installing the Finger Touch and this is what I did;



Tread design in bottom of oil pan;



http://content.communities.msn.com/TheWhiteObsession/shoebox.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=12



Holes drill right above gasket in Finger Touch drain plug.



http://content.communities.msn.com/TheWhiteObsession/shoebox.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=11





4-3/16" holes right above the gasket, in this drain plug should be large enough to accommodate any normal particles coming out of the pan, and assure that all oil is drained from it. If you have something large in your pan, you have got some major problems!

 

[ACoyle]

Dosen't the idea of something that could get bumped by something that you drive over and drain all your oil bother anyone? Or is there some kind of a safety. I never saw one of these in the flesh.

 

[Ray J]

Originally posted by BIG BOB

I posted the pictures of the way I drill out my Finger Touch drain plug. I noticed the baffle in the bottom of the pan when installing the Finger Touch and this is what I did;



4-3/16" holes right above the gasket, in this drain plug should be large enough to accommodate any normal particles coming out of the pan, and assure that all oil is drained from it. If you have something large in your pan, you have got some major problems!

Big Bob, I drilled the 4 holes yesterday and will be installing the plug when I change the oil this weekend. The four holes sure look like they should be enough to get all drained. Grin, won't know for sure until the change after this one.

 

[Todd T]

I was just looking at the Fumoto Eng. and the ones at Geno's.

basically I decided that fro $24-$36 bucks I would just keep on using the factory plug, and this news just makes me feel better about that choice.

 

[24V-DSL]

I couldn't make up my mind either, but I decided to stick with tradition, and went with Geno's Heavy Duty Plug. It's very high quality... . I like it. All the oil comes out of the pan. I think you've got to allow an hour or longer for a total hot drain to get most of the oil out. I actually let my truck sit overnight.



Dealer gave me a courtesy first oil change. Watched the tech... . the whole job took less than 30 min. , but the pan was still dripping a little when he put the plug back. He then put in exactly 1 qt. in the filter and 10 in the engine. After sitting overnight, I pulled the dip-stick and it read over the full mark..... which I think is proof oil wasn't all out of the pan. I've done two oil changes on my own since, and 11 qts. puts it exactly on the full mark.

 

[tmacc]

two thumbs up

I saw Big Bob's post on this subject last fall. I bought one of the finger touch valves, drilled it out and it works great. On the oil change after I installed it, I pulled the finger touch, just out of cutiousity and all of the oil had drained. Four 3/16" holes may not sound like much, but the oil comes out plenty fast. I don't know how much extreme off-roading one would do w/ a 20 ft truck, but for everyday job site and dirt road situations I don't think it's a problem. A friend of mine got a piece of road debis on I-70, that took out the oil pan in his MB, so anything could happen.

Good product. No, I don't work for Geno's or Fumoto.

Tom

 

[Ron Bissett]

Warning drain out all night is a accident waiting to happen . An emergency could alter your plan and truck in a hurry . In the Army we put it back to gether same day or waited until parts or oil ect be fore quiting , was then, is now good idea. Ron in Louisville Ky

 

[Joe G.]

I think that a truck up on jack stands with a five gallon bucket under it and the hood open is hardly an "accident waiting to happen. " Maybe if an earth quake caused it to fall off the jack stands during the night.

 

[EMDDIESEL]

I dont use Jack Stands, just a drain pan, i can practically crawl under my truck. I could see being completley dazed and forgetting the plug was out. I would say leve a few quarts of oil on your seat so you have a reminder or a Post it note would be good. I would hate to make that mistake

 

[John]

I agree with Joe G. I let my oil drain while I'm napping during the morning [sleeping is for weekends only. . that is unless I work O/T ]. After three hours or so everything that's going to drain has drained. I also place a red WARNING tag on the steering column next to the ignition... just in case I'm not totally awake when I resume the maintenance on my Ram.



Ron, thanks for the heads up though.