Date:         Sun, 23 Oct 2016 12:58:57 -0700
Reply-To:     Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: '84 1.9L -- cannot remove crankcase drain screw  -- what to
              do              next?
Comments: To: John Lauterbach <john@JHL.MGACOXMAIL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <592f5566.75.157f2d30fea.Webtop.49@jhl.mgacoxmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"

Same problem with my son's '87, but someone put a tapered plug there, now it has a completely rounded out hex keyhole.

I pump it out.  Find a cheap marine oil change pump, you'll find it works very well with warm oil, which is what it should be for changing. I remove the dipstick tube so I can use a larger tube, and it goes straight down to the bottom of the sump.

Removing the plug risks damaging the threads, and then you are really screwed.  Do an oil analysis every once in a while too: www.blackstone-labs.com.

Stuart

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of John Lauterbach
Sent: Sunday, October 23, 2016 11:35 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: '84 1.9L -- cannot remove crankcase drain screw -- what to do next?

My Son and I went to change the oil on my '84 Vanagon, 1.9L engine.
This is something we have done numerous times since he was old enough to
hold the wrench.  Should be really easy: short 13-mm socket or 13-mm
closed end wrench.  Nothing worked.  We gave up as he had to use van to
get to his job and I did not want to risk rounding off the hex head on
the drain screw.

What to do next?  Maybe in the morning after the van has been out over
night at temperatures near 40 F, we will get lucky and the drain screw
will come loose.  Next option is to take the van to my buddy at the
local Tires Plus and let him do the oil change.  Of course the Mobil 1
15W-50 and Mobil 1 filter I purchased may have to wait for next oil
change as Tires Plus generally wants to use their own supply.

Any other ideas?

Thank you,

John