Oil Pan Stripped?

[dak1511]

I went to change the oil on my F15 today and noticed that my plug on the bottom of the pan is spinning freely. Thinking that I might not be able to plug the pan if I took it out, I stopped and thought I would see what the fix is for this. Can anyone point me in the right direction? New plug? New pan? Re-tapped pan?

Thanks.

[ComasF15]

https://www.coxhardware.com/p-1972-o...iABEgLVT_D_BwE

Here's one solution. It depends on whether it can be retapped or you must use an over sized plug. Google is your friend and how you feel about repair. Most expensive is oil pan replacement.

[turboawd]

I never understand why people over tighten plugs. It's not like it's holding anything.
But usually you need to retap the hole for next size bigger plug.

[Kzang]

I personally overtighten everything. I think its just human nature to want everything to be super tight and secured….

[TOPEC]

Originally Posted by turboawd

I never understand why people over tighten plugs. It's not like it's holding anything.
But usually you need to retap the hole for next size bigger plug.

Ever seen places zap the drain bolt on with an impact wrench? Lol

[Maverik259]

Originally Posted by dak1511

I went to change the oil on my F15 today and noticed that my plug on the bottom of the pan is spinning freely. Thinking that I might not be able to plug the pan if I took it out, I stopped and thought I would see what the fix is for this. Can anyone point me in the right direction? New plug? New pan? Re-tapped pan?

Thanks.

BMW will just retap it's. That's your best solution. Or try and drill it out.

[alphaod]

Cheap option is helicoil of some kind. The problem is I would concerned about metal on the bottom of the pan due to the stripped screw

Expensive option is new bottom pan cover. I think it costs like $300 total for new pan plus new gasket and new bolts.

I stripped mine somehow when I did my break in change at around 1200 mi; second change at 5000 mile found the screw was stuck. I did the pan replacement choice; on the stripped pan I found that there was a bunch of metal from the threads just barely still attached; re-tapping might have made it loose. Perhaps the correct step is you plan to first re-tap, remove the pan anyways to inspect the inside, then spend the extra for a new gasket and bolts. Worse case is you removed the pant and you decide for a new one instead of re-tapping.

[turboawd]

Originally Posted by alphaod

Cheap option is helicoil of some kind. The problem is I would concerned about metal on the bottom of the pan due to the stripped screw

Expensive option is new bottom pan cover. I think it costs like $300 total for new pan plus new gasket and new bolts.

I stripped mine somehow when I did my break in change at around 1200 mi; second change at 5000 mile found the screw was stuck. I did the pan replacement choice; on the stripped pan I found that there was a bunch of metal from the threads just barely still attached; re-tapping might have made it loose. Perhaps the correct step is you plan to first re-tap, remove the pan anyways to inspect the inside, then spend the extra for a new gasket and bolts. Worse case is you removed the pant and you decide for a new one instead of re-tapping.

Did you use an impact to put the plug back in?

[Maverik259]

You may be able to lightly tap in a slightly larger hex head into the screw then just replace with the correct size. Not sure how soft the metal is but given it strips so easy I but you could semi easily just tap in maybe the next imperial size up. I would try that first.

[alphaod]

Originally Posted by turboawd

Did you use an impact to put the plug back in?

First time, yes I did. Now I only do it by hand and I finish it off with a torque wrench.

I learned my lesson the hard way.

[turboawd]

Originally Posted by alphaod

First time, yes I did. Now I only do it by hand and I finish it off with a torque wrench.

I learned my lesson the hard way.

Wow. At least you're able to admit it. But I'm generally curious, did you think the bolt had to be that tight? Or too lazy to remove one bolt by hand? I always thought it was a joke hearing people using an impact on a oil drain bolt.

[alphaod]

Originally Posted by turboawd

Wow. At least you're able to admit it. But I'm generally curious, did you think the bolt had to be that tight? Or too lazy to remove one bolt by hand? I always thought it was a joke hearing people using an impact on a oil drain bolt.

Well I was installing a running board at the time, you could say I got lazy.

And the reason it stripped isn’t because it was on there too tight. It was stripped before it was screwed in slightly off angle.