Date:         Sat, 24 Jun 2000 15:13:23 -0700
Reply-To:     John McLean <jaymac@internetcds.com>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         John McLean <jaymac@internetcds.com>
Subject:      helicoil on oil drain plug
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Today when I to remove my oil drain plug it felt a little different as
it was coming out.  The plug felt like it held tension all the way out.
When I cleaned it  to get a better look I found that I had a helicoil
type of  device on the plug.  (an internally and externally threaded
insert)

The motor is  VW factory remanufactured  with about 30,000 miles on it.

I always use a tourqe wrench to tighten my drain plug to 18 foot pounds
so I know it wasn't over tightened at the last change.

The only explanation I could come up with was that I had heated the
motor up extra hot before draining the oil.   It's about 85 degrees here
today.  Possibly the aluminum of the motor expanded slightly more than
the steel of the insert under the high heat conditions.

Anyway,  I cleaned the threads of the insert and the hole in the sump
and put it back in with a liberal coating of red locktight.
I tourqed the plug and insert to 18 pounds.   Now I'm wondering if  next
oil change I find the same thing happening again or if I find the plug
unthreading from the insert like it is supposed to do.

Anybody had the same experience?

John McLean  87 Vanagon GL  (204,000 miles)