Sump Plug Thread

JJJJNR

Hi, the threads on my sump plug have gone, so basically I need to rethread the sump, anyone know what the best way of going about this is, I don't want to get a new $ump but is it common enough to fix.

I know one option is to drill the plug and drain the oil, but I don't have the tools to rethread it etc.. never a quiet life..

randy hickey

Just to clarify; is the sump plug still in situ?

colm_mcm

Are the threads on the sump actually fecked, its not unusual to have a wrecked plug and the sump to be still ok.

JJJJNR

Yeah the plug is still in the sump, would drilling it the only way to get it out.

randy hickey

So what you're looking for is a way to extract the sump plug?

TheBody

Try using a breaker bar to get the sump plug loose.

randy hickey

Assuming your sump plug is jammed tight, I've used these extractors in a similar situation;

JJJJNR

thanks, when I try to remove the sump plug it turns but does not move out, could it just be the plug then, I was supposed to replace it last time...

randy hickey

Just a word of warning- if you go down the road of using an extractor,have a new sump plug at the ready!

randy hickey

JJJJNR wrote: »

thanks, when I try to remove the sump plug it turns but does not move out, could it just be the plug then, I was supposed to replace it last time...

Ah crap, it could be wrung after all.

TheBody

I wonder would it be as cheap to get a sump from a breakers than to get somebody to sort out the sump plug?

JJJJNR

I have access to a scapped GTI but as my car is a 2.0 TDi would the sump be the same.?

Ronnie Beck

That's odd. Is it not leaking oil? You could try grabbing it with a vice grips and pull it out and turn it at the same time. Or stick a screwdriver inbetween the plug and sump to wedge it out as you unscrew it. Is happened me before putting screws and bolts into sheet metal. You could probably get it threaded for a bigger plug then.

JJJJNR

theres a tiny bit of oil on the bolt itself but nothing major... yet.!..

randy hickey

Where are you based OP?

TheBody

JJJJNR wrote: »

theres a tiny bit of oil on the bolt itself but nothing major... yet.!..

Has all the oil drained out already

JJJJNR

randy hickey wrote: »

Where are you based OP?

Based in wicklow..

randy hickey

OP. if the sump plug is just spinning as you say it is, I genuinely wouldn't be running that motor until it is sorted. You couldn't be sure it wouldn't just spit the dummy out and dump it's oil.
Even if you do end up at the extreme of getting a new sump, it'd still work out cheaper than a new engine!

JJJJNR

I can replace the sump myself no problem, I had a look on ebay and this one came up, the only thing, I don't think mine has a bore hole? could I get a blanking plate for that?

Ronnie Beck

Aye, get it out and towed and fixed or just towed and fixed.

Fitting a new sump is fairly awkward. Alot of bolts some of them in awkward spots and a few in very awkward spots. If it's anything like my vw van you'll have two **** bolts up behind the flywheel between the gearbox and the sump.

JJJJNR

ahh well, I will get her towed to local garage tomorrow! as I mentioned earlier I hope it should be possible to get it rethreaded, rather than getting a new sump which sounds to be a proper fu*kwith of a job, even though I probably have the tools to do it, I think its a bit to big a job by the sounds of it..

Ronnie Beck

JJJJNR wrote: »

ahh well, I will get her towed to local garage tomorrow! as I mentioned earlier I hope it should be possible to get it rethreaded, rather than getting a new sump which sounds to be a proper fu*kwith of a job, even though I probably have the tools to do it, I think its a bit to big a job by the sounds of it..

Yes, I would ring the garage first to make sure they have sump rethreading tools. Standard enough job AFAIK.

JJJJNR

Well rang around a couple of places this morning and couldn't get any joy, so the last place i tried was redline motorcycles in Rathdrum, it was the closest to me in the end, aparently it was a hoor of a yoke to get out, needless to say major lesson learned , I was calculating in my head any of the savings I would have made by doing the oil changes etc at home would have been wiped out had the lads not been able to sort it out but they did and am delighted to endose them if thats ok...

So this got me thinking, how much should a sump plug be tightened, I know now that the sump is made of Aluminium so is very weak/soft.

Ronnie Beck

JJJJNR wrote: »

Well rang around a couple of places this morning and couldn't get any joy, so the last place i tried was redline motorcycles in Rathdrum, it was the closest to me in the end, aparently it was a hoor of a yoke to get out, needless to say major lesson learned , I was calculating in my head any of the savings I would have made by doing the oil changes etc at home would have been wiped out had the lads not been able to sort it out but they did and am delighted to endose them if thats ok...

So this got me thinking, how much should a sump plug be tightened, I know now that the sump is made of Aluminium so is very weak/soft.

Tightened according to manufacturers guidelines;). Clean the contact surface and use a new copper washer. Thread it in my hand and tighten it with a normal spanner it will be hard to go too tight unless you hang off it. Don't know the torque value. Probably 30/40 Nm or something.

CJhaughey

JJJJNR wrote: »

So this got me thinking, how much should a sump plug be tightened, I know now that the sump is made of Aluminium so is very weak/soft.

If you are worried about the thread fit a Fumoto valve.

Ronnie Beck

1. Oil drain plug, 30 Nm Renew.

franorzxrh2

Ronnie Beck wrote: »

Aye, get it out and towed and fixed or just towed and fixed.

Fitting a new sump is fairly awkward. Alot of bolts some of them in awkward spots and a few in very awkward spots. If it's anything like my vw van you'll have two **** bolts up behind the flywheel between the gearbox and the sump.

same on the passats!!!