Date:         Sun, 29 Jan 2006 13:04:55 -0800
Reply-To:     Evan Mac Donald <macdonald1987@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Evan Mac Donald <macdonald1987@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
Subject:      Re: stripped oil drain plug
In-Reply-To:  <43DCF6B3.5000608@charter.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1

Safety wiring is a standard procedure on anything in a high vibration OR no-failure-allowed environment. Safety wire pliers are just about a requirement if you wish to go this route, though, because the wire is easy to break if done wrong. Proper stainless steel safety wire of about 0.020" diameter is sufficient for just about any job on a Vanagon. The pliers are kind of steep, tho - I think Eastwood Tools has them, among lots of others. Look around at several sources before trying.
  Racers of all types also safety wire things down, but not as much any more, now that decent thread locking compounds are widely available. That option is out for a drain plug, though.

  Be careful with it, if you decide to use it. I went through literally MILES of safety wire in my days as a B-52 crew chief, and still have some oddly-shaped scars from that wretched wire...

John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET> wrote:
  Stripping of the oil plug --- is this not caused by over torquing that
plug?? Although I have not seen it, there should be be a torque
specification somewhere for that oil plug,. and if it is used and
applied properly, there should be no stripped plugs.

I understand the concern about that plug - if not tightened adequately -
uscrewing over time and vibration, falling out and dumping the oil.
Engines are the single biggest expense item in a van. They need
protective measures applied. Aircraft engines are also expensive. When a
plug falls out, the repercussions are enormous. Engine seizure, airplane
crash, lives lost. Worse that a van, but on airplanes things are done
--- like applying safty wire to the oil plug so it cannot back out.
Seems reasonable to me. I'm going to check it out on my on van. prol'ly
requires drilling a hole through two adjoing flats on the head. Then I
can shove some wire thorugh the hole, twist it together, and tie it off
in a tightening direction to something.

John Rodgers
88 GL Driver

Paul Guzyk wrote:

> This is not a joke. (Inboard) boat owners do this all the time.
>
> Think about it, how do you get under a boat engine to drain the oil
> if the engine is already at the bottom of the boat?
>
>
>> Stripping the oil plug seems to be a common
>> problem so I stopped removing the plug all together.
>> Pumping the oil out of the dip stick takes a bit
>> longer
>
>
>




Evan Mac Donald

1984 Wolfburg
1985 GL 7 Pass.
1991 Carat Weekender
1972 Chevy P/U
1993 Bonneville