Oil Pan Threads Stripped

[littlekelly]

Well, I guess I'd better get my game face on and drive over to dealer and have a little coversation with the service manager, huh?

[IndyTom]

Originally Posted by littlekelly

Well, I guess I'd better get my game face on and drive over to dealer and have a little coversation with the service manager, huh?

Good Idea but I would use your "Mean" face instead

[littlekelly]

Originally Posted by VWBubba

Sounds to me like 'the extra nut' is the spanner monkey is still attached

Not understanding something here guys regarding the 'free' oil change. Are you telling me that you drive in, they change the oil, filter and sump plug free of charge ?? If so I gotta get me some of that

If you pay, you pay, end of story, nothing is free. They have an obligation to you, the minimum being the oil change should be done as stipulated by VW, this is stupidity at best, negligence at worst.

" Good morning Sir/Madam, yes our oil change is completely free but the repairs after we mess it up will be somewhat expensive. Oh yes, well we have to recover our costs somehow, if you would like to park it over there our school leaver will get to it as soon as he has doused the fire on the last one he did. Did I mention that these new Beetles are prone to bursting into flames for no apparent reason?

Personally I would kick up so much of a fuss that they would be begging me to let them change it !!

Well, guess I'd better get my game face on and drive over to the dealer and have a little conversation with the service manager, huh?

[littlekelly]

Originally Posted by IndyTom

Good Idea but I would use your "Mean" face instead

Oh yeah, I have that face, too! It's not the first time they've tried to pull a fast one on me, you'd think I would've learned my lesson... I used to just ignore all their crazy expensive service "recommendations", but this one takes the cake! I just talked to my regular mechanic about that drain plug valve and he mentioned something about the possibiliity of the sealant used to install the drain valve might get into the oil pan and block the filter?

[IndyTom]

Originally Posted by littlekelly

Oh yeah, I have that face, too! It's not the first time they've tried to pull a fast one on me, you'd think I would've learned my lesson... I used to just ignore all their crazy expensive service "recommendations", but this one takes the cake! I just talked to my regular mechanic about that drain plug valve and he mentioned something about the possibiliity of the sealant used to install the drain valve might get into the oil pan and block the filter?

Very unlikely. You don't even have to use any "Sealant" on the threads. Just screw in the drain valve as you normally would. then just use the JB weld on the outside of the drain valve bolt to secure and seal any surrounding area. There is no way that anything will get into the oil pan that isn't already there. After the JB Weld has set install the rest of the valve, refill with oil and you're done Again, this depends if the dealer didn't put a larger than normal plug in there. If they did than the drain valve will not work. A new pan would be in order.

[littlekelly]

Originally Posted by IndyTom

Very unlikely. You don't even have to use any "Sealant" on the threads. Just screw in the drain valve as you normally would. then just use the JB weld on the outside of the drain valve bolt to secure and seal any surrounding area. There is no way that anything will get into the oil pan that isn't already there. After the JB Weld has set install the rest of the valve, refill with oil and you're done Again, this depends if the dealer didn't put a larger than normal plug in there. If they did than the drain valve will not work. A new pan would be in order.

Thanks! I will have to find out if they changed out the old plug to a larger one, then. I used the term "sealant" when I talked to my guy. I will have to clarify that with JB Weld

[IndyTom]

Originally Posted by littlekelly

Thanks! I will have to find out if they changed out the old plug to a larger one, then. I used the term "sealant" when I talked to my guy. I will have to clarify that with JB Weld

Better yet, if your mechanic has a welder handy he can just weld on the first part of the drain valve. But either way it would seal very well and that portion of the valve will never come off that pan Well, the actual valve can be removed and replaced if necessary but those Fumoto valves last forever.

[nitroman]

Interesting, so does that mean using some adhesive sealant, if applying to the outside (not the threads), will not work? I mean something like this:

http://www.permatex.com/products/Aut...ve_Sealant.htm

Or is it because this stuff is too flexible and/or not hard enough or something? I'm just curious.

[IndyTom]

Originally Posted by nitroman

Interesting, so does that mean using some adhesive sealant, if applying to the outside (not the threads), will not work? I mean something like this:

http://www.permatex.com/products/Aut...ve_Sealant.htm

Or is it because this stuff is too flexible and/or not hard enough or something? I'm just curious.

That might work as well but I was thinking of something a little more permanent like this:
J-B Weld Company - MARINE WELD Product Information

or this :
J-B Weld Company - J-B STIK Product Information

Either one of these once cured will seal any seapage coming from the oil plug area. Keep in mind once this stuff has cured whatever is bonded to it will never come off. Well, unless you use a blowtorch