Stripped my oil plug trying to change it. Went to two shops, both want to replace the oil pan, which requires pulling the engine. joy.

One shop wouldnt look at it, other said its near impossible to put in a helicoil kit.

To me this is a screw. Anyone thinking like me and can just pull it and rethread it? Maybe some welding? Anything cheaper than 1k.

12/27/2011 10:21:21 AM

Make/Model?

12/27/2011 10:28:26 AM

So much going on here.
1. I don't know why you couldn't helicoil it unless there is something wonky about that particular oil pan's design. Did they say why you can't helicoil this particular one versus nearly every other car on the road?

2. You can get oversize oil drain bolts for this exact purpose. Just figure out the size of the bolt and the thread pitch. Make sure it is going in straight and it should follow the original threads and tap new ones as it goes in. Advance Auto has them in select sizes and thread pitches. Meineke or Midas would probably toss you one for a few bucks. I had to order a 5 pack off Amazon.com for my ATV when I stripped the drain bolt in the crankcase because it was an oddball thread pitch, but the new bolt sealed up fine and it never leaked a drop.

3. I once owned a car that had a ghetto repair that seemed to work just fine. The car was an 89 BMW 325i. Someone stripped the bolt and used JB Weld to insert a normal NPT (plumbing type) drain fitting in there. The new drain hole was pretty small (a little larger than a pencil maybe), so it took a while for the oil to drain. Otherwise it worked perfectly fine for the several years that I owned the car and never dripped at all. I'm sure the plug and JB Weld was less than $10 at Lowes. Looked like this basically:




I'd try the oversize plug first. It'll only cost you a few bucks. Helicoil if that doesn't work. The NPT drain would work if you need a quick fix and don't have access to tools, but if it's anything other than a total beater it probably deserves better.

[Edited on December 27, 2011 at 11:00 AM. Reason : s]

12/27/2011 10:57:22 AM

Quote :

"Make/Model?"

Always forget that :/ chevy s10 2000.

The shop that was going to consider helicoiling it said the threads are completely stripped on the pan. Ive never done it and dont know much on it. We couldnt get the bolt out, it just spins.

Anyone want to look at it and take a chance on fixing it? Im in W Cary and free all tomorrow.

These are the ideas Im looking for Thanks guys!

12/27/2011 11:10:01 AM

LSx swap while you have the engine out.

12/27/2011 11:28:59 AM

If it isn't leaking leave the drain plug where it is and drill a new hole for a new plug.

12/27/2011 12:12:56 PM

If it just spins it can't be holding oil very well. I would grab it with vise grips or weld a handle onto the bolt and just rip that sucker out of there. Clean up the hole with a drill bit covered in grease to catch the shavings. Then buy one of these rubber oil pan plugs at advance. You insert it then turn the nut to expand the rubber. This will probably have to be replaced at every subsequent oil change.


The right way to fix it is, of course, to pull the oil pan. I'm pretty sure you do have to pull the engine on a 2.2, can't remember for 4.3. Then you clean the pan up and weld a nut on the inside of the pan, or helicoil it if there's enough metal left. I could probably take a look at it this weekend if no one else can before then.

12/27/2011 1:15:31 PM

Even if it's spinning in the hole, you can use a single or double oversize drain plug in it. There should be enough meat there to support it. I do this kind of thing all the time if you'd like me to take a look. I also sell the drain plugs.

12/28/2011 2:45:50 PM

Got this fixed yesterday. Pulled the plug, thankfully there was just enough threading to get a new plug in. Probably will think about putting a helicoil in in the near future.

Thanks all!

12/29/2011 8:59:25 AM

forgoe the heli-coil and just grab a single-oversize plug like ZX said. It probably will not work as intended on a through-hole, and one in an oil pan to boot.

12/29/2011 9:43:41 AM

Take your old POS truck to carmax and be rid of it before changing the oil again.

12/29/2011 10:38:39 AM