Melted my Oil Pan Plug

[AvenueEye]

I had my oil changed last week, and when they changed it, the guys told me that I had some damage to my oil pan, and that the plug didn't seem to want to seat right. These oil pans are aluminum, and so when the threads go, they're gone. So they put a new plug in and said that it should last me for quite a while.

Yesterday, after a trip of about 110 miles, it would seem that I sprang a leak from the oil pan. I went back in and they found that the oil was running so hot that it melted the gasket in the plug. We were using a high grade 10W40 synthetic oil, and there was no indication that I was over-heating. (No temp light warnings.)

It's currently 12:55 am my time. I got home tonight around 8:30. I just went and checked the car, and the engine is still VERY hot to the touch.

Obviously, smaller engines run hotter, as they are more compact and have to work so much harder, but is THIS normal?? I'll concede that it may have simply been the wrong kind of plug that they put in the first time, but now that I'm sensitive to it, I'm a little concerned about my heat.

What's your take?

[2004NBTURBOS]

With aluminum oil pans it is very easy to strip the plug. All it takes is someone who is a little heavy handed. It is a common problem. Was the car leaking oil before you took it to get the oil changed. If not then the person who changed the oil over tightened it and stripped the threads. It can be an easy fix. Most times the drain hole can be re-tapped and the next size plug used.
These cars tend to have a hot motor compartment. The hood sits very close to the motor and it is a tight confined space in the motor compartment that wont get a lot of air circulation.

[Smileybug]

Yeah I doubt it melted anything. Sounds like it was a stripped out plug.

[ziptron]

It's not a heat issue, its a lousy mechanic issue.
The gasket for the plug is copper washer, that didn't melt.
You suggest they put in a New plug, I would guess that to "fix" their issue they stuffed back in the Same plug- but with a big blob of sealant (that'll hold a while).
From the sound of things the product they blobbed on was Not high temp sealer.

So I'd worry less about the engine heat and more about the stripped pan (Us turbo guys are running even higher temps- and not leaking a drop !).
At a minimum you need the tap/larger plug suggested.
A new pan with a steel bottom is the best, several vendors have them.

[D2Beetle]

It sounds like the mechanic used either a plastic or rubber o-ring to seal the oil pan plug. I would take it back to them a say fix it, at their cost.

[MarkC]

I had a similar situation with a stripped pan. The simple fix was to install a single-oversize 14MM x 1.5 drain plug with plastic gasket (about $3 at Advance). This plug is self-tapping and requires no drilling. All was fine; however, within several weeks, oil began to leak at the plug. Tightening the plug only stopped the leak temporarily. I tried an aluminum washer and still had a leak. I then tried a copper washer, which solved the problem. The plastic gasket deformed (cold-flowed) under heat and pressure while the aluminum washer was too hard and didn't deform enough to seal completely.