In a message dated 10/25/99 4:19:46 AM Alaskan Daylight Time, hunnam@PNC.COM.AU writes: << In the interest of expanding our knowledge, can you give us an detailed on just what occurred and how the thread became stripped. >> Sure 'nuf! The Wobbly Bus has about 130K miles on her and I'm certain there's been a bunch of oil changes. During my recent oil change, I didn't have any fiber or nylon washers for the plug, so I used one of the copper ones left over from my old Jetta (yeah, I know...I know). Needless to say it wouldn't seal properly and dripped oil. I always use my 1/4 drive mini-ratchet and socket for this as I at least new about not over-torquing the bugger. Well...... after tightening the plug one final time, attempting to get the seal to seat, it still kept leaking...slowly. I took the wifemobile down to the FLAPS, got me some nylon washers and returned to replace the seal. So....while I had my finger stuck in the drain hole...so as not to lose my 20 bucks worth of Mobil 1, my #2 son replaced the washer and gave me the plug which I reinstalled. Again, using my 1/4 drive ratchet, I proceeded to tighten the plug. It got tighter and tighter....and then all of a sudden it was loose again. My heart sank. That's when I posted my first message to the list and researched the archives. I later returned to the scene...and just for giggles tried to tighten the plug again. It snugged up pretty good....leading me to believe perhaps it was just bound up in there and just freed itself. But, after reading everything in the archives, I know I want to make sure this doesn't happen again. SO, ... I'm going to order the M14x 1.5 Timesert kit... and use it when I change my oil next time. Meanwhile, I'm gonna watch that oil level and plug like a hawk. Fini Scott De Santi Vanagon 2WD (Wobbly Bus) Anchorage, Alaska |
Please note - During the past 17 years of operation, several gigabytes of
Vanagon mail messages have been archived. Searching the entire collection
will take up to five minutes to complete. Please be patient!
Return to the archives @ gerry.vanagon.com
The vanagon mailing list archives are copyright (c) 1994-2011, and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the list administrators. Posting messages to this mailing list grants a license to the mailing list administrators to reproduce the message in a compilation, either printed or electronic. All compilations will be not-for-profit, with any excess proceeds going to the Vanagon mailing list.
Any profits from list compilations go exclusively towards the management and operation of the Vanagon mailing list and vanagon mailing list web site.