oil drain bolt leak
 

Have the tiniest bit of oil leaking from the drain bolt. In fact though about a couple drops for the day pretty much. Checked the oil level and its fine. Still at the same place. Wondering if it may have been tightened too much though. Anyone have an idea or helpful advice? Would changing out the pan be recommended?

Do you have the washer that goes between the pan and the bolt installed?

No I dont actually. What washer is it and should I go ahead and drain the oil, change it out and install it? It didnt used to do this before actually. I changed the oil the other day in fact and then it started very very little leaking. Just drops. Maybe I tightened it too much and broke the thread or didnt tighten it enough?

you need to have a washer between the oil pan and the bolt to seal. Oil will leak past the threads even if they are perfect condition, you need a "gasket" which is sorta what the washer does.

If you want to drip to stop, drain oil and install a new washer

i can't remember if they're plastic washers or those little crush metal washers. I forget but you should be able to pick one up at autozone, etc..

its a copper crush washer the same diameter as the drain bolt
looks like this, pretty standard stuff
http://faq.f650.com/FAQs/Photos/Wate...PlugWasher.jpg

See the 93 manual pages D6 and D10. Here will show the procedure for draining the oil and schematic showing the drain plug and "gasket" or aluminum crush washer. You can get one easily at the dealer. Follow the torque recommendations or you'll strip the threads.

The manual is your friend, even if you do something as simple as changing oil.

later

weird mine was copper wonder if they changed it in 94. i should go aluminum to shave some weight :)

if that doesnt solve the problem, thread the bold with teflon tape. makes for a tight seal

:) Just couldn't resist...

Another one of my pet peeves (stuff used the wrong way, in a situation for which it was never intended)...

Teflon tape is designed to be used to fill imperfections and seal tapered pipe threads. Most times on a straight thread, you can't get the Teflon tape compressed enough to seal properly, and it will still leak.

Dave

lol :rlaugh:

Good stuff everyone! Thanks for the help.

I change the crush washer everytime I do an oil change.

i use it all the time on steel fittings, and it has never done me wrong. if you insist on others not useing it, thats fine.

teflon tape is made thin so it can be layered many times while still keeping to the shape of the threads.

im not looking for a debate, i just think using it in different situations is a matter of choice

:) No problem - as long as you know how to compensate for using it where it wasn't intended. I just hate to see people who don't know as much as you get into trouble when they don't know the drawbacks.

Dave

Aluminum crush washers on drain plugs FTW. They are re-usable. Copper washers work-harden after a single tightening. To get copper washers to seal repeatedly, you have to anneal them with a torch or over-torque them. PITA. The only bad thing about alum washers is eventually they squeeze out into nothing.