Daddy's not very helpful helper...

[robfisher]

decided to help me change the oil today... and decided to put her (yes a 'her' tom boy) all into tightening the sump plug... now it just spins round and round, any suggestions?

[dave1966]

Try putting plummers tape round the threads on the sump plug,as thats what I did to mine and it seems to be ok.

[bobbinsjob]

will it come back out? if so, try fitting a helicoil

[snapper]

It's not the end of the world, a temp fix could probably be achieved by using some PTFE Tape, for a more permenant solution see below.

1. Repair it using a 'Helicoil' example how to do it
2. Get one of those sump plug tap things, but go a thread size up from the existing one and drill/tap the hole to suit.
3. Scrap yard visit for a new sump bottom.

[Drift]

That happened to mine, I fitted one of these, its a tad bit bigger than standard and made a nice fit
viewtopic.php?f=32&t=17094&p=409598&hilit=sump+drain+plug#p409598

I tried all the temp fixes but was not happy thinking the plug could drop all the oil driving along.

[dave1966]

What about one of these:-
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Fumoto-Quick-Valv ... 230f334313

Im thinking about getting one of these.

[Rifleman]

Dave, thats all very well mate, but the drain hole is quite a bit narrower so the chance of removing all the yad that collects at the bottom of the sump is less.
This is why I dont personally like the oil drainer suction pumps that remove the old oil through the dipstick tube.
You cant remove any foreign bodies such as metal filings and the heavier thicker dirt that the oil collects during its time in the engine.
Its always safer to remove the sump plug completely. Even though you would normally warm up the engine first to make the oil thinner for ease of removal.

[dave1966]

Keith,that is a good point. I hadnt thought about it that way bud. My engine oil gets changed every 6 months.

[Rifleman]

I do mine every 5000 miles mate, and thats long enough.

[Drift]

Thats the reason I went for the drain plug, I change the oil every 3k and thats how I ended up stripping the thread on the pan, but on my 2.8 pan the hole for the drain is actually on the raised part of the pan, regular oil changes and filter changes should in theory not allow any build up of crud.
Here is the pan so you can see what I mean



See here its situated on the higher section of the pan

[snapper]

The sump plug on mine is even worse than drifties as can be seen below. I now jack up the offside of the car when doing oil changes to help get all the oil out.

[Drift]

Same place Frank, just my pics didnt show it very well

That said, yours looks like it has a collar around it

[robfisher]

Sorry for not replying sooner, bit of an www issue at home...

Anyway thanks for all the replies and suggestions. The little blighter seems to have sealed ok - no oil leaking, but just a few worries about getting the git out at the next oil change