Date:         Mon, 25 Oct 1999 14:40:36 EDT
Reply-To:     Scooter061@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Scott De Santi <Scooter061@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Oh Well... Stripped Oil Drain Plug...
Comments: To: hunnam@pnc.com.au
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

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