Oil Pan Threads Stripped

[littlekelly]

Took my 98 Beetle into Camelback VW yesterday for an oil change. I was advised that my oil pan threads are stripped and that I would need to have the oil pan replaced at the next oil change. The service "advisor" said it's because my car is old and it happens over time. My car is old, but only has about 85,000 miles. From what I've been researching, it happens because the metal drain plug has been overtightened. I have been getting my oil changed 2-3 times a year at Camelback VW for almost 6 years. Prior to that, I was taking it to another local VW dealership here in Phoenix. I have never had the oil changed anywhere else but VW. Other than the stripped threads, the pan is in good condition, no cracks, etc. They want to charge me over $500 for the replacement! Do you think they should take some responsibility for this issue? It was their techs who caused the problem. Thank you!

[IndyTom]

Originally Posted by littlekelly

Took my 98 Beetle into Chapman VW yesterday for an oil change. I was advised that my oil pan threads are stripped and that I would need to have the oil pan replaced at the next oil change. The service "advisor" said it's because my car is old and it happens over time. My car is old, but only has about 85,000 miles. From what I've been researching, it happens because the metal drain plug has been overtightened. I have been getting my oil changed 2-3 times a year at Camelback VW for almost 6 years. Prior to that, I was taking it to another local VW dealership here in Phoenix. I have never had the oil changed anywhere else but VW. Other than the stripped threads, the pan is in good condition, no cracks, etc. They want to charge me over $500 for the replacement! Do you think they should take some responsibility for this issue? It was their techs who caused the problem. Thank you!

VW dealership take responsibility for their Goof Up? What have you been smokin' Why would they? They can blame it on old age (regardless of miles) and charge you a pretty Penny for a new Oil pan. And Yes, they probably messed it up by either overtightening the plug or not using a new plug and crush washer every time they change the oil. They are suppose to but I bet they don't always do it. Do you have receipts? Does it show they charged you for a new plug and washer? Should only be a $1.49 part but it is required by VW service to change the Oil Plug and crush washer on every oil change.
Otherwise they have to tighten that plug more and more to make it seal and eventually they will strip the plug.

Don't pay them 500 bucks for a new OIL Pan. It takes about an hour to do it yourself and the pan is less than a 100 bucks depending what pan you get. If you do get a new pan I would recommend a "Hybrid" pan. The top part is Aluminum and the bottom is Steel. Steel is more forgiving when it comes to stripping threads. Or you can get a Fumoto Drain Valve.
Volkswagen New Beetle 1.8T > ECS News > Fumoto Oil Drain Valve - Volkswagen/Audi

Seal it in with some JB Weld or similar Epoxy and it will never leak from that area again and you have a simple way to drain the oil without ever taking out a drain plug that will strip the threads eventually.

Heck, even if you do get a new Oil Pan I would still recommend this Drain Valve. Quick and Easy to install and it will make Oil changes easier in the future.

Here is a Link to a Hybrid Oil Pan:
Volkswagen New Beetle 2.0 > Search > Oil Pan > ES#7918 Hybrid Oil Pan Assembly - 06A103601T

And here is just a regular Aluminum Oil Pan:
http://www.ecstuning.com/Volkswagen-..._Pan/ES258522/

Make sure you order it without Sensor Hole. None of the US Models ever received Oil pan's with an Oil Level Sensor. The sensor that you see on your dash indicates problems with your Oil pressure only.

[billymade]

Also, you could repair the threads with a steel insert kit. While not exactly cheap vs. a new steel oil pan; this kit would reduce the labor cost by reusing your old one. Just another option to consider.

++ TIME-SERT STRIPPED OIL DRAIN PAN THREAD REPAIR KITS ++ Stripped oil pan threads, leaking oil drain pan stripped, stripped oil pan oil drain pan stripped threads stripped drain pan threads, leaking oil pan threads leaking, leaking oil drain pan. dr

VW Aluminum Oil Pan Stripped - Threads Stronger Than New | Denlors Auto Blog

TIME-SERT 1415A VW Oil Drain Plug Thread Repair Kit | Thread Repair Tools / Inserts

[IndyTom]

Originally Posted by billymade

Also, you could repair the threads with a steel insert kit. While not exactly cheap vs. a new steel oil pan; this kit would reduce the labor cost by reusing your old one. Just another option to consider.

++ TIME-SERT STRIPPED OIL DRAIN PAN THREAD REPAIR KITS ++ Stripped oil pan threads, leaking oil drain pan stripped, stripped oil pan oil drain pan stripped threads stripped drain pan threads, leaking oil pan threads leaking, leaking oil drain pan. dr

VW Aluminum Oil Pan Stripped - Threads Stronger Than New | Denlors Auto Blog

TIME-SERT 1415A VW Oil Drain Plug Thread Repair Kit | Thread Repair Tools / Inserts

LOL , The Time Sert kit is more expensive than a new Oil Pan and it would actually be more labor intensive fixing the old pan than just dropping the pan and installing a new one.
To do the job right you still would need to drop the pan. If you just drill into the oil pan while it is still on the car metal shavings and debris can float around in the engine and you definitely don't want that.

[eister]

i've been using a rubber expandable plug in my blazer for years..I use a new one every second oil change. Never had one leak either

[IndyTom]

How does that work? You you pump it up?

[littlekelly]

Originally Posted by IndyTom

VW dealership take responsibility for their Goof Up? What have you been smokin' Why would they? They can blame it on old age (regardless of miles) and charge you a pretty Penny for a new Oil pan. And Yes, they probably messed it up by either overtightening the plug or not using a new plug and crush washer every time they change the oil. They are suppose to but I bet they don't always do it. Do you have receipts? Does it show they charged you for a new plug and washer? Should only be a $1.49 part but it is required by VW service to change the Oil Plug and crush washer on every oil change.
Otherwise they have to tighten that plug more and more to make it seal and eventually they will strip the plug.

Don't pay them 500 bucks for a new OIL Pan. It takes about an hour to do it yourself and the pan is less than a 100 bucks depending what pan you get. If you do get a new pan I would recommend a "Hybrid" pan. The top part is Aluminum and the bottom is Steel. Steel is more forgiving when it comes to stripping threads. Or you can get a Fumoto Drain Valve.
Volkswagen New Beetle 1.8T > ECS News > Fumoto Oil Drain Valve - Volkswagen/Audi

Seal it in with some JB Weld or similar Epoxy and it will never leak from that area again and you have a simple way to drain the oil without ever taking out a drain plug that will strip the threads eventually.

Heck, even if you do get a new Oil Pan I would still recommend this Drain Valve. Quick and Easy to install and it will make Oil changes easier in the future.

Here is a Link to a Hybrid Oil Pan:
Volkswagen New Beetle 2.0 > Search > Oil Pan > ES#7918 Hybrid Oil Pan Assembly - 06A103601T

And here is just a regular Aluminum Oil Pan:
Volkswagen New Beetle 2.0 > Search > Oil Pan > ES#258522 Oil Pan Assembly - 038103601NA

Make sure you order it without Sensor Hole. None of the US Models ever received Oil pan's with an Oil Level Sensor. The sensor that you see on your dash indicates problems with your Oil pressure only.

Yeah, you are probably right about them not taking responsibility. I only go there for the free oil changes and take my car to an independent, reputable VW shop for other necessary maintenance and repairs. I should have known better, there's no such thing as a free oil change from the stealership... who knows, it could have been intentional on their part!

[eister]

One of these. It's 3-5 bucks

http://youtu.be/cdAvBAJaBwQ

[littlekelly]

Great advice, IndyTom! So I can possibly keep the original oil pan and have the Oil Drain Valve installed? Does it fit into the old drain hole then? How much labor time is involved do you think?

[littlekelly]

Originally Posted by eister

i've been using a rubber expandable plug in my blazer for years..I use a new one every second oil change. Never had one leak either

Hmmm, seems like a possible cheap fix, thanks!

[IndyTom]

Originally Posted by littlekelly

Yeah, you are probably right about them not taking responsibility. I only go there for the free oil changes and take my car to an independent, reputable VW shop for other necessary maintenance and repairs. I should have known better, there's no such thing as a free oil change from the stealership... who knows, it could have been intentional on their part!

I don't think it was intentional. They usually are in a hurry when they do those "Free" Oil Changes and let the unexperienced or new kids on the block do the dirty work. So they probably just hurry and tighten those oil dran plugs like there is no tomorrow. They may even have cross threaded the damn thing. It is really easy to do. But what's done is done.
Personally, I would just install the Fumoto drain valve and use JB Weld or Similar around the threads and around the edges of the first part of the drain valve. It will never leak again and it will be a lot easier to drain the oil in the future. No one can ever strip your oil plug
I will install one of those valves the next time I change my oil.

[IndyTom]

Originally Posted by littlekelly

Great advice, IndyTom! So I can possibly keep the original oil pan and have the Oil Drain Valve installed? Does it fit into the old drain hole then? How much labor time is involved do you think?

It is a direct fit for your drain hole. I would install it yourself and then you don't have to worry about any labor charges If I were closer I would come over there and install it for you. Shouldn't take more than 10 minutes.
Just make sure you use a Sealer/Epoxy on the upper threads so it will seal any leakage coming from the stripped threads. Shouldn't be too difficult. That way the first section of the valve (the adapter) is permanently sealed to your oil pan but the second part (The actual valve) still screws in. A very straight forward procedure. Once in place you just lift the security lever and turn to release the oil. No more tools needed to drain the oil.

[littlekelly]

Originally Posted by IndyTom

It is a direct fit for your drain hole. I would install it yourself and then you don't have to worry about any labor charges If I were closer I would come over there and install it for you. Shouldn't take more than 10 minutes.
Just make sure you use a Sealer/Epoxy on the upper threads so it will seal any leakage coming from the stripped threads. Shouldn't be too difficult. That way the first section of the valve (the adapter) is permanently sealed to your oil pan but the second part (The actual valve) still screws in. A very straight forward procedure. Once in place you just lift the security lever and turn to release the oil. No more tools needed to drain the oil.

That drain valve sounds like the perfect solution and will save me a lot of money! I haven't noticed any oil leaking since the oil change yesterday, so they must have rigged something up. I hope it holds up for another 5K. Thanks again for your help! Over the years, this forum has been a wealth of information!

[IndyTom]

Maybe they used some teflon tape for the threads or perhaps a rubber washer instead of a Aluminum Crush washer. The rubber washer will seal a little better. I hope they didn't install an oversize plug in which case installing the Drain Valve will not work. But usually they woulnd't do that without telling you first. At least I hope not.

Another scenario is that they just tried to scare you into buying a new oil pan and making some money. Perhaps there is no problem at all with the threads.

[VWBubba]

@ IndyTom .".VW dealership take responsibility for their Goof Up? What have you been smokin' "

I love this statement :-)

The thread seems to be missing the issue (excuse the pun) The car went in without a leak and a perfectly serviceable sump plug, then some over zealous spanner monkey over tightens it and wants you to pay for his/her mistake !!

Their mistake, their problem !! They get the parts at cost so it's a damn sight less than they are asking off you. If I was in your shoes, not only would I insist they rectified the fault, I would refuse to pay them for the service until they do.

[littlekelly]

I agree completely that they should take responsibility, but here's the catch.... my oil changes from them (Camelback vw), have been free for over 5 years. I don't know if I have any recourse... Maybe this their way of having me "pay up" for those freebies? I don't get any other service there because their labor charges are way outside my budget. I go to another independent VW shop I've been very happy with over the years.

[littlekelly]

Originally Posted by IndyTom

Maybe they used some teflon tape for the threads or perhaps a rubber washer instead of a Aluminum Crush washer. The rubber washer will seal a little better. I hope they didn't install an oversize plug in which case installing the Drain Valve will not work. But usually they woulnd't do that without telling you first. At least I hope not.

Another scenario is that they just tried to scare you into buying a new oil pan and making some money. Perhaps there is no problem at all with the threads.

I"ll have to do some investigation on this. I don't want to buy the drain valve only to find out it won't fit. I hope they will be honest with me. When I took my car in to my regular guy after this initial incident, he put it up on the lift and it looked liked there was some kind of extra nut attached to the plug...

[IndyTom]

Originally Posted by littlekelly

I"ll have to do some investigation on this. I don't want to buy the drain valve only to find out it won't fit. I hope they will be honest with me. When I took my car in to my regular guy after this initial incident, he put it up on the lift and it looked liked there was some kind of extra nut attached to the plug...

Hmm, Extra Nut? I would ask the dealer what the heck they did to your car.

[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 !!

[Smileybug]

Originally Posted by IndyTom

Hmm, Extra Nut? I would ask the dealer what the heck they did to your car.

Might have done what we did to the oil pan on our Mk1...welded a nut to the pan so we had some good threads for the drain plug. Granted, the 1.6TD oil pans are darn near impossible to get so we had to fix the one we had. But it works just fine with no leaks.