Leaky oil drain Bolt

Tiny
ROYCAR71
  • MEMBER
  • 2013 CHEVROLET EQUINOX
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 130,312 MILES
I have a leaky oil drain bolt and I replaced it with new one. It is still leaking. What option do I have to fix?
Saturday, September 11th, 2021 AT 4:34 PM

1 Reply

Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 13,580 POSTS
If the new one leaks as well and the gaskets look OK the next thing to look for would be if the pan itself is damaged, If the plug was over tightened in the past or somehow got cross threaded either can cause leaks. Another possibility would be if the pan cracked at the area the plug screws in. For the first two a repair would be to use an oversized plug, they make them in a self tapping version that you screw in, then clean out the shavings Or you use a tool to ream the hole out and thread it to the new size.
https://www.2carpros.com/articles/engine-is-leaking-oil
In the case of a cracked or seriously damaged pan the only good option would be to replace the pan as the crack will remain even with a larger plug.
That pan isn't that hard to replace but I would determine which issue you have first. Then if you wanted to repair it using an oversized plug you can cheat some, what I do in those cases is to drain the old oil out and save it, now coat the replacement plug or tap with grease, use it to cut the threads , remove it and wipe it clean. Install the replacement plug and fill with the old oil, now pull the plug and let it drain out, that usually removes anything left behind. Now install the new plug, and fill with fresh oil. and a new filter. Enjoy the leak free drive.
To clean it really well you can use brake cleaner, and scrub around the plug and then dust the area with a powder like baby powder or similar. Now watch for it to darken. If you see a line form it's likely a cracked pan. Removal is in the attached images. To install the replacement you follow the other 3 images. For the sealer the easiest stuff to use is called "the right stuff" works well and isn't hard to find.
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Saturday, September 11th, 2021 AT 7:39 PM

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