...you guys have not had any issue with the oil pan drain plug stripping out the treads on the pan? I was told that my threads were nearly stripped about a year or two ago. I have a mere 124k Miles.

I've solved the problem (re-engineered drain) but I'm surprised no one else has encountered it, or perhaps just not mentioned it. Getting a new pan was cost prohibitive. I've only ever got my oil changed at the dealership.

 

Stripped oil pan threads aren't a function of anything wrong with the car. That's just a poor job by the mechanic and they should have paid for it. Either the mechanic cross threaded the bolt or over-torqued it by a crap-load (official term). Either way, that's the only way you're going to strip the threads.

Sure, you can screw it up yourself if you do it wrong at home and you'd be out a lot of $$$, but if the dealership is the only entity who has ever changed the oil in your car, then they should have forked out the money for a new drain pan.

 

They blamed it on the pan being aluminum while the plug is steel.

 

It has more to do with constant over torquing. Every time it gets over tightened, the threads weaken a little. It eventually gets weak to the point the threads just give way. Problems like galling are almost non-existent thanks to the threads always being well oiled.

 

Just came back from Cape Coral Fl. and it is time for me to change oil again after just mere week and a half as I use a conventional oil and round trip just cost me another 3500 miles . I always change oil myself and use actual torque wrench, that is set to a recommended 25 Nm, on the oil plug .Never had a problem with stripped threads.just went over 208 000 miles.I can see how over torquing at dealership can do damage though ..

 

Yeah...based on how they over-torque the hell out of my lugnuts, I could see them doing the same on the plug. Oh well...it's spilt milk now. Like I said, I re-engineered the plug, and I wasn't going to take them to task on getting me a new pan. They've been too good to me for so long.

 

FumotoŽ USA | Quick and Easy Engine Oil Drain Valves

Worked flawlessly on my E320D... on my Rover list.

 

Looks good. I went a different route, and it's working...but this looks very feasible as well.

 

Didn't use on on my rover but check out the echo plug.Used it on another vehicle and it works great. Makes oil changes super easy and it's pretty cheap.

 

I don't need a solution, I was just wondering who else is in the same boat?

I ended up getting a couple OEM plugs and (having a local machine shop) tap a hole through it. Then I got a SS pipe fitting forming an elbow with a threaded cap. Works fine. Hole is smaller so it takes longer but that's okay.