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Information - Oil drain plug

Oil sump drain plug: replacement and selection

When and why it is necessary to replace oil sump drain plug

This element has no specified operational lifetime limit. Most of all, the component is replaced due to thread damaging.

This defect can be the result of improper installation of the plug during oil replacement. Moreover, such defect can be the result of frequent lubricant replacement.

Damaging of the plug thread is usually indicated by oil leakage, which leads to its consumption increase. This can be detected during visual inspection of the dipstick. If the oil level in the engine pan becomes critically low, the indicator lamp activates on the dashboard. Often, at defect of the sump drain plug you can find traces of the lubricant under the car. In addition, breakage is noticeable during scheduled oil replacement: if the thread is damaged, the plug adheres non-tightly to the hole. In some cases, the defective oil sump drain plug, on the contrary, can not be unscrewed with a wrench.

In certain car models you need to install a new sump drain plug at every replacement of oil. This helps to prevent, for example, thread destruction in the hole for the plug, and it should be noted that this defect can lead to necessity of replacement of the whole pan. In order to reduce the risk of oil leakage, the oil pan plug gasket is used. Note the fact that if it is impossible to perform demounting of the plug on your own using a wrench, you need to apply to a service station. There is a risk to damage part edges, which significantly complicates its removal.

How to select sump drain plug

There are components with removable gaskets, and solid parts. Metal or plastics are used for plugs production. And the gaskets can be of metal or rubber. The products made of the first material are considered more durable, while the rubber ones are easier to replace.

In order to make the threaded sump drain plug not to break down too soon, buy the component of the proven brand. For instance, high quality parts are presented in the assortment of VAICO, Febi Bilstein, SWAG.

During selection of the drain plug, car engine main parameters are important, as well as crankcase production material, size and shape of the oil pan. To ensure correct mounting, consider the size and pitch of thread, shape of the bolt head. Also the drain plugs differ from one another by diameter and quantity of full turns at screwing.

Advices for our customers

Is it necessary to replace O-ring at replacement of engine oil pan drain plug?

During replacement of the engine oil pan drain plug it is necessary to replace the O-ring. It is expendable and in most cases appears to be copper or brass washer, hollow inside, which crumples at screwing and repeats all unevenness of the oil pan. Thus, the best quality sealing is performed. At repeated use, such tight contact can not be provided, so risk of leakage appears. In most cars you can find rubber O-rings of the engine oil pan. In course of time they lose elasticity and get deformed, that is why, as well as the metal ones, they are to be replaced during each drain plug replacement.

How to unscrew crankcase drain plug?

In order to unscrew the crankcase drain plug, in case if it got corroded, you will need a special remover tool. It is strongly prohibited to use materials at hand or incompatible wrenches, as the thread can be easily damaged, which is fraught by expensive oil pan replacement. A new drain plug should be screwed in with a certain torque, which is noted in car technical documentation. That is why, if you don’t have corresponding tools and skills, and noticed that the plug is not unscrewing during demounting, it is better to apply to a service station for help.

With which torque should engine oil pan drain plug be tightened in my car?

In order to learn, with which torque the engine oil pan drain plug should be tightened in your car, study the vehicle technical documentation. The car manufacturer always specify acceptable tightening torque values for threaded connections. It is mandatory to follow these recommendations. Pressurization of the engine oil pan may be violated due to insufficiently tightened drain plug. Excessive torque at screwing of the part causes damaging of the threaded connection not only on the bolt, but also in the oil pan, which may lead to its replacement. Value of applied force should be controlled with the help of a torque wrench.