Super Plug recalled?

[cap-n-cray]

Supper Plug re-called

My wife tried to order a Super Plug today from Geno's for the mother-in law to give to me for Christmas, out of stock, problems? My wife did not ask any question. Anyone know whats up? It was the only thing I could come up with for a gift, that was not over $100.



Cary

 

[kluther]

only one item out of six, geno's had in stock. all sold out of the rest, maybe next year( for me ) ken

 

[JCyrbok]

HUh?

Are you saying that they were recalled and thats why they are out. Or just hypothsising ( if thats a word) that that is why they are out?



I have over 20K trouble free miles on mine. Hope theres no recall.



J-

 

[cap-n-cray]

What wife said

My wife said Geno's said there was a problem. Geno's said some people have had the plugs fall out. They are checking with the manufacture. Won't sell them.



Cary

 

[JCyrbok]

Oh

Better check to see if mine is still there then! LMAO. Never heard of that.



J-

 

[Big Wheel]

super plug

Try this web sight ( superplug.com ) thay make the orignal Super plug

 

[Cooker]

I have used the Super Plug for over a year now, and I did notice one time that the plug had loosened up a little (I found this out at the time of an oil change). I was too afraid to snug it down at first (no torque wrench) so I attribute this to being my fault. Since then I tighten it down a little better and I haven't had a problem since.



All in all, the Super Plug seems to be a great unit to me.



As already mentioned you can try the manufacturer direct at www.superplug.com



At the time of my purchase I received a $5 discount for being a TDR member.

 

[illflem]

A member posted in 911 a while back about his super-plug falling out, lost his oil and caused engine damage. Needless to say he is now using the stock plug. Don't know if this is an isolated case but it may be the reason Geno's is holding off on selling super-plugs till the problem is figured out. If I had a super-plug I'd definitely check to see if it's tight.

 

[tarussell]

I purchased the super plug from Geno's and installed it at the next oil change and torqued it to specs and it backed out in less than six days of driving.

I noticed a small oil spot on the ground where I park the truck and thought it was just some residual oil from the oil catch breather bottle and did not think much of it. Than I noticed a slightly larger oil spot where I park at work, so I crawled under the truck and the plug was two-and a half turns from falling out. I did not loose much oil at all but it could have been really bad if I had not checked it right at that moment. Needless to say I tightened up the super plug and drove home and did another oil change and put the stock plug back in and it has been used ever since.

I never complained to Geno's about it because I thought it was an isolated incident but I may just give them a call on Monday and see what they say. I am not complaining about Geno's ; I am just sharing what happened because it seems that others are having the same problem too.

Thomas

 

[sberrio]

Washer reversed?

Someone pointed out a while back that the washer was 2 sided. 1 side metal the other rubber. The rubber goes against the pan. I have had 1 for over a year with NO probs. I like it for 2 reasons. 1. the magnet nad 2. I can grab it with vice grips if I round off the head. Just to be curious, does anyone know the torque specs for it?

simon

 

[illflem]

If you want to replace your plug for another, forget the washer or have it on backwards you can hook a vacuum cleaner up to the oil fill spout and plug the blowby with a screw driver. The plug can then be removed with no loss of oil or any in the vacuum. If your wife catches you with her vacuum hooked up to your truck tell her I said it was ok but only if you don't get oil all over it.

If you get oil on it tell her it was your idea.

 

[jcbrown]

Service...

Been on my turck for two and 1/2 years. Never loose and always torqued to 40 lb. ft. Had to replace the sealing gasket once due to wear from oil changes.

 

[tarussell]

Sberrio - I am going by memory for this - I think the factory bolt is 37 ft. lbs. and the super bolt is a higher torque rating - I can't remember it at the moment. I don't remeber which way the gasket was on the super bolt- either which way, I don't trust the bolt that I got. Thomas

 

[JCyrbok]

torque spec

per 2001 service manuel the spec is 44lbs/ft. I do mine to 40.



J-

 

[JCyrbok]

It was loose!!!!

Checked my Superplug and it was LOOSE!!!!!!! I couldnt turn it with my fingers but as soon as the old craftman 1 1/8 wrench went on it spun very easily. Definately not the 40lbs/ft it went in at. What can we do about this? I very much like the idea of the magnet and the size of the plug however sending out a James Bond type oil slick while cruising down the road is NOT ACCEPTABLE! Any ideas?



I'm ordering a new plug tonight!.



J-

 

[jerryrigg]

Mine has loosened also... tighten it up... put a bead of Ultra-Blue Permatex around it



I just found this,http://www.cgenterprises.com/drain_plugs_magnetic.htm anybody used these plugs?



The 1031M is a flush mount magnetic plug



-Matt

 

[illflem]

I personally don't see how it could be the plug causing the problem, it has to be the washer.

 

[JCyrbok]

sealing washer

The washer that came with my Superplug from Genos, which was " a New Cummins Factory sealing washer" per Geno's catalog, was a "fiber" type gasket and it was much larger than the threaded area of the plug.



Been looking on line and at some other plugs and found that many sites list the Cummins sealing washer as a rubber and metal type washer, that looks just like a Banjo bolt washer.



WHich is the right one? Or does it not matter? I picked up an assortment of washers at the auto store last night after reading this thread. I got the metal/rubber, fiber and nylon, all to check for fit on the plug. Anyone use Locktite or similar product on the plug? ( just brainstorming here).



Which will be the best to get me through to next change. I'm changing over to synthetics SUnday and will change again in 1K to get the gunk out. Then it will be extended periods according to analysis.



Thanks in advance, as always,

J-

 

[sberrio]

washer

Mine was a tight fitting metal and rubber washer. It looks like a metal washer was surrounded by rubber on 3 sides, with the metal side against the plug. By the way, that metal part is a royal PIA to get over that magnet.

On my 93 dodge cummins I used a dab of blue RTV on the threads of the stock drain plug. The stocker kept coming loose, and the rtv stopped it. Just be careful to only use a small amount, try not to get it to squeze up the threads into the oil pan.



just my 2 cents,

simon



ps thanks for the torgue answers guys

 

[tarussell]

I agree that it seems like the washer would be the problem. I did not take the time to compare the pitch of the threads between the Cummins bolt and the Geno's Super Plug when I had them both out ; I suppose that I should have though.



My 2002 has a different bolt than the other second gens ( aparently it is like the first & third gens ) , the bolt's outer rim is totally encapsulated by the rubber washer and it is a female 3/8's drive. I have heard of gaskets causing problems with bolt retention on other vehicles- Ex: most Honda dealerships that I know of include a new oil drain plug washer when you buy a oil filter to keep people from using the old one over again.



If it is the washer on the Geno's super bolt than it must be totlay wrong and not just gets fatigued ( sp ) because mine loosened up on the first application.



I would think that Loc-Tite thread locker could cause some problems if any of the dried up flakes got past the threads at bolt removal time ???? Besides it would be real hard to get the oilpan bolt hole totally dry for the Loc-Tite to set up properly. Any way, I went back to the Cummins bolt and have never found it loose in nine oil changes so far.



Thomas