Stripped oil drain plug - options?

[Bimmerfanatik]

Hey guys - selling the 86 ES to a friend, and the PO had ended up stripping the oil drain plug. Is there any way to make this stop leaking besides replacing the pan? It holds fairly well, and if you put it in just right it doesn't leak, but if not, it does. Maybe a gasket or something? I dunno.

[e30Matt]

Helicoil it?

[Bimmerfanatik]

Helicoil it?

Would that work? I guess that makes sense....I guess I'm just looking for a super mega ultra easy way to fix this ;)

[bddog]

Go to cgenterprises.com/drain_plugs_oversize_repair.htm They make a few solutions to your problem. Plug # 1030 looks like the easiest solution. Good luck--Steve

[Bimmerfanatik]

Go to cgenterprises.com/drain_plugs_oversize_repair.htm They make a few solutions to your problem. Plug # 1030 looks like the easiest solution. Good luck--Steve

Great site Steve - maybe one of the other oversized plugs might work too though. What size are the stock drain plugs?

[bddog]

I am not sure. I always start mine by hand.
I know the rubber one works-- Used one in my younger days. Someone also makes an expansion type rubber plug. Similar to an emergency freeze plug.---Steve

[Bimmerfanatik]

Go to cgenterprises.com/drain_plugs_oversize_repair.htm They make a few solutions to your problem. Plug # 1030 looks like the easiest solution. Good luck--Steve

After much struggle, I gave up. Looks like I gotta order this.

Can anyone take a quick peek at this:

http://www.businessvision.net/edge/Stores/cgenterprises/ProductImages/1030.jpg

It says:
1/2" - 3/4" / 12MM - 19MM
NOT FOR VW OR HONDA
NEEDS 1 5/8" CLEAR INSIDE PAN

Do I have 1 5/8" clear inside? I guess I could shave the screw down... Also, I should get the 19mm, right? Our drain plugs are 17mm...?

[Bimmerfanatik]

UPDATE for all you guys who end up in the same position.

In thinking alot about this problem, I decided that the plug mentioned in the above link was adequate, but it was costly ($12 for the plug, 12 for shipping from Canada), and also, the clearance of the screw may become an issue.

So I swung by my parents and showed him the pic of the plug, and we looked through some catalogs he had (he owns an HVAC company) and found this:



Perfect fit - just to let you know, this had a size of .41" to .48". It's a marine plug, rated -50 degrees to 250 degrees, and up to 10 psi. It's a great fix if you don't want to change the pan. Cost 4 bucks from McMaster-Carr.

No more leaking, spots all up and down my street from where I park, and a quart a week. Awesome.