Date:         Thu, 31 Aug 2017 11:56:21 -0500
Reply-To:     John Rodgers <jrodgers113@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         John Rodgers <jrodgers113@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: FYI.. oil drain plug
Comments: To: "Richard Smith (Smirby)" <smirby@gmail.com>
In-Reply-To:  <CA+az7_6e0ds+MChAMouX-BLc1Cik0tHXvS92VXHXcDmhy4e8LA@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"

The sparkplug subtitute for a drain plug is a really old time solution that
started back in the day of the aircooled Bettle. Still works, but it is
temporary at best but does work.

Best bet is get the propper drain plug with copper crush gasket, ASAP! The
reason for this is there is propper torgue to be applied to that plug, and
the copper crush gasket is part of the system. If the proper plug is used,
and the proper crush gasket is used, when the torque is applied, it will
crush the gasket to the propper seal without requiring excess torque. The
engine oil sump is aluminum and the threads for the oil plug can be
overtorqued and torn out easily, thus the requirement for the crush gasket
and torgue values propperly applied. Yah, yah, I've seen it done a half
dozen different ways, but you are always at risk. One other thing, a true
crush gasket for this will be a copper - or possibly - aluminum - material
folded over on itself with a crushable material in between that yields
under the propper torque. I have ordered crush gaskets from some sources
and solid copper washer were sent as crush gaskets. That doesn't get it in
my book.

On Aug 31, 2017 11:17, "Richard Smith (Smirby)" <smirby@gmail.com> wrote:

Here’s a horror story: a friend bough a westy and the oil drain plug, he
discovered, was a sawed off spark plug. Ew.
---
Richard Smith, Ph.D.   Director, MDM Program  |  tel 778.370.1012
twitter:@smith
c <http://www.ecuad.ca/>entre for digital media  |  685 Great Northern Way,
Vancouver, BC V5T 0C6
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create, collaborate, and transform ourselves.




> On Aug 31, 2017, at 8:31 AM, Dan N <dn92610@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
>
> I forgot the brand ..  it's Needa
>
> I'd think it fits better than the OEM one.. the head is bigger (17mm) but
> it has thick base that fit inside the recess and the head is flushed with
> the drain hole. Next oil change I'll swap the rubber gasket for a crush
> washer...
>
> http://www.autozone.com/external-engine/engine-oil-
drain-plug/needa-parts-engine-oil-drain-plug/257264_959455_
0?fromString=search&make=Honda&model=&year=
>
> yes Autozone web page says it doesn't fit vanagon but it does
>
> dan