Oil drain plug leak

Technical aspects of automobiles, et. al., post #21,133
Author:
Date:
Subject:
 Ivan Vegvary
 2008-07-03 03:16:39
 Oil drain plug leak
Subject says it. 1994 Honda Accord. Changed oil and had a small drip from
the drain plug after reinstalling. Tried a copper gasket from my collection
and still leaks. Went to Napa and paid $ 0.99 for another copper gasket
(they did not have the soft aluminum gasket in stock) and still another
leak.

Went to Honda and asked for the right gasket. Then gave me an aluminum "O"
ring at no charge. Hope this one works. Of course, meanwhile as you can
imagine, drain the oil each time, clean up the mess, refill with oil, etc.
etc.

I want this to be the last time. Will try the Honda aluminum gasket. Any
advice? I've been changing oil for over 45 years (including, 45 years ago,
2 years working in a gas station while going to school) and have never had
this happened. The underside of the drain plug is totally smooth and
undamaged. The same can be said for the mating surface on the oil pan.

The gaskets we used to have decades ago were copper clad with a soft inner
filling, probably asbestos. They were very 'crushable' and sealed quite
well. Can't find those anywhere.

All advice greatly appreciated.

Ivan Vegvary
Author:
Date:
Subject:
 sdlomi2
 2008-07-02 23:33:42
 Re: Oil drain plug leak
"Ivan Vegvary" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:rwXak.127$Z11.56@trndny05...
> Subject says it. 1994 Honda Accord. Changed oil and had a small drip
> from the drain plug after reinstalling. Tried a copper gasket from my
> collection and still leaks. Went to Napa and paid $ 0.99 for another
> copper gasket (they did not have the soft aluminum gasket in stock) and
> still another leak.
>
> Went to Honda and asked for the right gasket. Then gave me an aluminum
> "O" ring at no charge. Hope this one works. Of course, meanwhile as you
> can imagine, drain the oil each time, clean up the mess, refill with oil,
> etc. etc.
>
> I want this to be the last time. Will try the Honda aluminum gasket. Any
> advice? I've been changing oil for over 45 years (including, 45 years
> ago, 2 years working in a gas station while going to school) and have
> never had this happened. The underside of the drain plug is totally
> smooth and undamaged. The same can be said for the mating surface on the
> oil pan.
>
> The gaskets we used to have decades ago were copper clad with a soft inner
> filling, probably asbestos. They were very 'crushable' and sealed quite
> well. Can't find those anywhere.
>
> All advice greatly appreciated.
>
> Ivan Vegvary
>
I've had quite good luck with the white washer that looks/feels like
hard plastic. Never thought I'd like them, but on a few stubborn 'leakers'
they always seemed (or seemed always?) to stop the leak. They look quite
thick, about 3/32 inch and often do not fit snugly to the plug diameter.
Hope you find this to work for you too. s
Author:
Date:
Subject:
 Marty
 2008-07-03 15:29:25
 Re: Oil drain plug leak
On Thu, 03 Jul 2008 03:16:39 +0000, Ivan Vegvary wrote:

> The gaskets we used to have decades ago were copper clad with a soft
> inner filling, probably asbestos. They were very 'crushable' and sealed
> quite well. Can't find those anywhere.
>
> All advice greatly appreciated.
>

Some folks in here might frown on this practice, but a wee bit of
plumbers teflon tape makes a perfect seal without the risk of over
tightening the plug.
Author:
Date:
Subject:
 Ivan Vegvary
 2008-07-04 00:07:50
 Re: Oil drain plug leak
"Ivan Vegvary" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:rwXak.127$Z11.56@trndny05...
> Subject says it. 1994 Honda Accord. Changed oil and had a small drip
> from the drain plug after reinstalling. Tried a copper gasket from my
> collection and still leaks. Went to Napa and paid $ 0.99 for another
> copper gasket (they did not have the soft aluminum gasket in stock) and
> still another leak.
>
> Went to Honda and asked for the right gasket. Then gave me an aluminum
> "O" ring at no charge. Hope this one works. Of course, meanwhile as you
> can imagine, drain the oil each time, clean up the mess, refill with oil,
> etc. etc.
>
> I want this to be the last time. Will try the Honda aluminum gasket. Any
> advice? I've been changing oil for over 45 years (including, 45 years
> ago, 2 years working in a gas station while going to school) and have
> never had this happened. The underside of the drain plug is totally
> smooth and undamaged. The same can be said for the mating surface on the
> oil pan.
>
> The gaskets we used to have decades ago were copper clad with a soft inner
> filling, probably asbestos. They were very 'crushable' and sealed quite
> well. Can't find those anywhere.
>
> All advice greatly appreciated.
>
> Ivan Vegvary
>

Hey, thanks everyone. After dropping the oil 5 times and trying copper,
aluminum, Teflon, aluminum with rubber gasket combinations on the drain plug
(all to no avail) I finally found that the problem is a hairline crack in
the oil pan immediately adjacent to the drain plug.
The plug threads into a thickened (re-enforced) area of the pan and
immediately at the edge of this thickened area starts a hairline crack that
radiates outward for about 3/8 ths of an inch.

I propose to clean the area with a wire wheel and then hit it with the wire
feed welder. Ground strap will be within a few inches, however I will
disconnect the battery just in case. Wife will stand by with a huge fire
extinguisher. Car is up on a hoist.

Removing the pan is the other alternative, but lots of exhaust pipe and
cross bracing in the way. Probably about 2 hours work.

All comments, suggestions, warnings appreciated.

Ivan Vegvary
Author:
Date:
Subject:
 Pete C.
 2008-07-04 07:26:49
 Re: Oil drain plug leak
Ivan Vegvary wrote:
>
> "Ivan Vegvary" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:rwXak.127$Z11.56@trndny05...
> > Subject says it. 1994 Honda Accord. Changed oil and had a small drip
> > from the drain plug after reinstalling. Tried a copper gasket from my
> > collection and still leaks. Went to Napa and paid $ 0.99 for another
> > copper gasket (they did not have the soft aluminum gasket in stock) and
> > still another leak.
> >
> > Went to Honda and asked for the right gasket. Then gave me an aluminum
> > "O" ring at no charge. Hope this one works. Of course, meanwhile as you
> > can imagine, drain the oil each time, clean up the mess, refill with oil,
> > etc. etc.
> >
> > I want this to be the last time. Will try the Honda aluminum gasket. Any
> > advice? I've been changing oil for over 45 years (including, 45 years
> > ago, 2 years working in a gas station while going to school) and have
> > never had this happened. The underside of the drain plug is totally
> > smooth and undamaged. The same can be said for the mating surface on the
> > oil pan.
> >
> > The gaskets we used to have decades ago were copper clad with a soft inner
> > filling, probably asbestos. They were very 'crushable' and sealed quite
> > well. Can't find those anywhere.
> >
> > All advice greatly appreciated.
> >
> > Ivan Vegvary
> >
>
> Hey, thanks everyone. After dropping the oil 5 times and trying copper,
> aluminum, Teflon, aluminum with rubber gasket combinations on the drain plug
> (all to no avail) I finally found that the problem is a hairline crack in
> the oil pan immediately adjacent to the drain plug.
> The plug threads into a thickened (re-enforced) area of the pan and
> immediately at the edge of this thickened area starts a hairline crack that
> radiates outward for about 3/8 ths of an inch.
>
> I propose to clean the area with a wire wheel and then hit it with the wire
> feed welder. Ground strap will be within a few inches, however I will
> disconnect the battery just in case. Wife will stand by with a huge fire
> extinguisher. Car is up on a hoist.
>
> Removing the pan is the other alternative, but lots of exhaust pipe and
> cross bracing in the way. Probably about 2 hours work.
>
> All comments, suggestions, warnings appreciated.
>
> Ivan Vegvary

That would certainly explain it. I was thinking it was odd that all
those gaskets would be failing. Not having a MIG, I'd pull it and TIG
it, but in any case, if you can I'd try to purge the interior with inert
gas to help prevent the oil on the inside burning. Drilling a small hole
at the end of the crack before welding probably wouldn't hurt either.
Author:
Date:
Subject:
 boxing@sasktel.net
 2008-07-04 23:32:12
 Re: Oil drain plug leak
Be careful, a couple years ago, there was someone in the city where i
live, cleaning something in the garage with a flamible liquid. When
his wife came to the door of the garage with a light cigarette there
was a huge fire ball and her face was burnt beyond recognition. just a
word of caution.