DOH! Stripped Sump Thread.

Hmmm... Well it seems that at some point I have crossed the threads on the engine oil sump and stripped them.

I noticed this when I last did an oil change a couple of weeks ago. The sump bolt is in and tightened up as much as I dare. Bolt is fine and it is deffo the sump thats stripped. I dont have any leaks but this will be troublesome at the next oil change.

Sooooo.... Onto my next problem. I was looking at Helicoil type kits and the cheapest I can find a kit in the original size (M14x1.5) is a shade over £60 so I was wondering if anyone had a m14x1.5 helicoil type kit I could borrow and buy my own inserts or a M14x1.5 tap I could borrow and see if the threads will clean up ok.

Other alternative is to get a M16x1.5 tap and redrill and fit a new bolt. in which case does anyone have a tap that size?

Urrr... Help... please...

by the way, if anyone has stripped the threads on the bolt/plug I found some on Ebay here: Click Me

I stripped mine some time ago, Bernie ran a tap through it and a new plug fitted fine, at the next oil change Im fitting my drainplug so I dont have to go through that again.

M14 x 1.5 tap ........... yes

Is yours the pressed steel sump ??

Couldnt say Bernie. Not one of those things you think too much bout. I think its alloy but will have to check.

Phil,check with a magnet,the reasonI ask is that if it is pressed steel the chances of being able to fit a "helicoil" or other threaded insert are slim to non existent.the actual threaded section is a "drawn"tube that has been flanged & threaded,it is therefore consequently to thin to rethread.
This is deffo the case for the 2.8 Tdi sump,not sure on yours so best make sure before attempting anything.
If it is steel do not despair there is a way to repair it but it would mean getting it down to me.

When do you want/need to do the oil change ??

Wont need to change the oil for a bit yet, although this is intermediate oil after I ran the tappet cleaner through before putting the good stuff in. It is an alloy sump, just been out in the rain to have a look. May be making a trip up to you soon(ish) Bernie.

Ok Phil,no worries,we will have to sort out a day,
It may be an idea to get a GASKET,UPPER TO LOWER PAN 90410931,as if it needs to be rethreaded that would be best done off the car.
Check the price first though as if they are expensive I could find if it is a stock item at local dealer

Will do mate. I get trade prices at the local VX place if I catch the right guy. Not a huge discount but if Il see how much it is, would prefer to have the sump off for retapping/drilling anyway for obvious reasons ;-)

That is part number for a 2.2 petrol now isnt it? Engine code X22XE

from what i can remember its not possible to remove the sump with the engine still in the car

M 14x 1.5 is unfortunately not the same as spark plugs which are x 1.25 or any motorbike shop could do it for you. I would look at another plug, e.g. Ford as they do both 14mm and 16mm in their engines with a rubber sealing ring too so they dont need to be super tight. As it is the alloy sump it should have enough meat to tap again. I would have a look, in the local motor factors and see what sump plugs they have (I just got a new one for my Transit which was rounded off by previous owners) and that was 14mm.
Std size is M14x2.0 and a tap is cheap enough, but I would get it helicoiled M14 x 2.0 and then a nice bolt with washer or a ford sump plug can be used. I have a spark plug one which is unfortunately too fine, but you can do it in situ.
Just drain the oil into a container/ pan having jacked the front up, then tap the hole for the helicoil using grease on the tap and then flush a bit of the old oil through to clear it finally. Fit new plug and fill with new oil, bobs your best mate!

ANy decent engine reconditioner or engineering works should be able to do it by arrangement on a fine day outside, you just need the drain pan new oil and a trolley jack, wont cost too much ( I think going rate for helicoil is about £20.0) and it wont strip again.
Or if there is enough meat buy a 16mm finish tap and do it on the drive and fit a 16mm drain plug.
Finally you could beg borrow or buy a 3/8"bspt ( T means taper) tap and a same size bspt plug and lightly tap the threads then ptfe on the plug threads and nip it up, they do seal and are easily taken out.
Mike

Good suggestions awdriver.

Have a plentiful supply of oil and filters. Was leaning toward the m14x2.0 idea myself. But was going to pop into local garage to see if they could helicoil for me, they are usually pretty good about that sort of thing.

Deffo enough metal to retap as alloy sump.

Pretty sure the sump can be removed with the engine in the car.

yep i got the same problem . i bought a engine from the scrap yard , the original sump plug just wouldn't tighten up. so i bought a longer sump plug ,it did bite on about the last couple f threads .but it still leaks . even tried putting sump gasket around the plug . but it still leaks .asked a local mechanic about a helicoil but he said it wouldn't work . was told i needed a new sump . :roll:

No you dont need a new one asI said a BSPT tap and Plug add up to about £15 or so, in fact there are plenty of carbon steel taps ( instead of High speed steel) which are dead cheap to buy, you r on ally and probably only use it ince or twice so carbon steel is fine, just dont go mad with tightening the taper plug as it seals easily and will eventually split the sump if you went mad on it, but otherwise a good and permanent fix. Many big wagons have taper seal plugs because they are trouble free and they are changing the oil every fortnight or so.
Mike

I retapped a friends sump on his 750 turbo Kawasaki in 1985(?) and I think we just went up a thread size and put a bigger bolt in.It went unbelievably well.

I might have been mistaken when I said it wasnt leaking :oops:

It is dripping and I had to top it up a bit today on the way to Cannock. Looks like Il have to get it done sooner rather then later.

We get this problem all the time with vauxhalls with the ally sumps, I've got a kit at work that has oversized taps (non standard thread) that will tap the existing hole without drilling and the kit also contains new plugs to replace the standard one with

barry c28
Sounds like a plan

I cant understand after so many years of engineering why they insit on using fine threads in ally when it isnt needed and leads to these problems, the iso std M14x.2 is perfect and way less likely to strip and it is a standard thread VX have very much gone to numptys this last few years.
Mike
PS by the way that is exactly what the helicoil taps are to bring you back to the original size

Phil consider a Drain plug, but get the thread size you need after re tapping.

No more farting with the sump plug