Problem: Oil Drain Plug stripped!

nfrantz007 · 04-20-2008, 01:40 PM

Recently had my oil changed and sure enough it started leaking oil around the drain plug. At first I wasn't sure of the cause because the plug is the low point, but I crawled under the truck today and tried to loosen the drain plug and it turns and turns but doesn't go anywhere. So... any thoughts on where to go from here? Any chance its just the plug itself? or should I go ahead start looking for a new oil pan?

Thoughts, Comments Welcome!

Thanks!

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**DeathCougar** · 04-20-2008, 02:11 PM

I doubt its the plug, they rarely strip since the metal of the pan is softer. I would get the old one out, assess the damage, and go from there.

OSU4Runner · 04-20-2008, 03:26 PM

Is the head of the plug rounded off? If you can get the plug off, you probably just need to replace the rubber O-ring around the plug.

desertyodaboy · 04-20-2008, 04:09 PM

That actually happened to my acura and I just ended up getting an oversized drain plug and it fixed it....but i dont give a crap about that car...but i would see what it is for sure first

BajaRunner · 04-20-2008, 05:46 PM

Ugh. I hate stuff like that.

Try whatever you can to get that plug out, and I would drill and re-tap to the next size up if the pan is stripped. Toyota must have a larger drain plug on another model.

Basically, you don't want to deal with changing out the pan, its a PIA since you have to drop the diff. I did it a few months ago, took a whole day to get it open and out. :/

Froggy93 · 04-20-2008, 05:59 PM

try and get the plug out if you can. You may get lucky and it might just be a stripped plug. I have seen plugs strip and the pan was still good. However, I also have had bad luck with trying to use an oversized plug but have seen a few that worked. I work at a dealer and have seen it happen a couple of times. Toyota uses a welded nut inside the pan. generally when you try and drill it and put an oversized plug in it, the nut breaks loose and you still end up having to replace the pan. This may have been what happened to yours. whoever tightened it up may have gotten a little overzealous and way overtorqued it to the point that the nut broke loose. Or, they may have cross threaded it and ran it in till it wouldn't go anymore and broke it loose. no telling what happened untill you get it off. Not be the downer in the group but don't be suprised if you end up replacing the pan. Good luck. Btw, as far as I know, Toyota only uses one sized drain plug.

nfrantz007 · 04-20-2008, 06:47 PM

Ugh is right...

I think I'm going to wait for as long as possible since the oil in there is brand new (synthetic). Once I get sick of adding oil and seeing it in my driveway I'll get the plug out and let you know how it goes.

Many thanks for all who responded!

CJM · 04-20-2008, 07:12 PM

Why not just get an oversized plug and when you draint he oil into a pan put it backin. I done it before on a car at the shop I work in.

yarosig · 04-20-2008, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SC4Runner

Ugh. I hate stuff like that.
. :/

Try torquing down a drain plug on a manual transmission and get a 4" chunk of cast aluminum come of your case?

98runner210 · 04-20-2008, 07:41 PM

why not contact who damaged it in the first place and have them make it right.

nfrantz007 · 04-21-2008, 06:21 PM

ok, so i decided I couldn't sit and watch my truck bleed so I took off the skidplates and pulled out the drain plug (vise grips and a lot of pulling while turning) to find a few interesting things.

First, the plug was stripped not the pan! So great news there. A quick trip to autozone and 6.71 later I was back in business.

Second, I found that I had been carrying around a friend from sometime in my skidplates! (see below)

Thanks for all the suggestions and comments!

nfrantz007 · 04-21-2008, 06:26 PM

http://picasaweb.google.com/nathan.p...88381432736146

http://picasaweb.google.com/nathan.p...88372842801538

Sorry I am failing miserably at adding these pics to the page...

**DeathCougar** · 04-21-2008, 06:39 PM

Fixed for ya. That plug is pretty toast!

Cxrazy · 04-21-2008, 07:43 PM

Bird looks good. Still Fresh.

Glad your pan didn't strip! Congratulations for being lucky!!!

EDIT:/

200th POST WOOT!

ROOFGOOF · 04-23-2008, 10:23 AM

FUMOTO VALVE !!!!

Get one. They are great!

cgeorge · 04-23-2008, 03:41 PM

how the hell did the bird end up in there?

seanz0rz · 04-23-2008, 03:59 PM

my only guess is down in the engine compartment, or up through the bottom/back or sides. no way in hell he could have gotten in there from front impact.

Froggy93 · 04-23-2008, 07:14 PM

Nice bird. glad to hear you didn't have to replace the pan.

04-20-2008, 03:26 PM	#3 (permalink)
OSU4Runner Registered User Personal Sales Rating: (0) Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Woodway, TX Posts: 1,346	Is the head of the plug rounded off? If you can get the plug off, you probably just need to replace the rubber O-ring around the plug. __________________ 2006 Tacoma SR5 - Stock for now 2000 4Runner Limited 16x8 Pro Comp Steelies wrapped in 285/75R16 Pro Comp M/T'S~RB 2" Body Lift~SS 1.2 Lift~1st Gen Roll Bar~Surco Safari Rack~ Trail Gear Sliders~Deckplate Mod w/ True Flow~Satoshi Grille~Hayden 1678 Aux Cooler~Safari Snorkel and a bunch of other crap.....

04-20-2008, 04:09 PM	#4 (permalink)
desertyodaboy Registered User Personal Sales Rating: (0) Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: San Diego Posts: 216	That actually happened to my acura and I just ended up getting an oversized drain plug and it fixed it....but i dont give a crap about that car...but i would see what it is for sure first __________________ 1986 4runner SAS 2010 Tundra 4x4 Crewmax 1994 Toyota Pickup 2wd

04-20-2008, 05:46 PM	#5 (permalink)
BajaRunner Contributing Member Personal Sales Rating: (0) Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: 5th Gen San Diegan, California Posts: 7,101	Ugh. I hate stuff like that. Try whatever you can to get that plug out, and I would drill and re-tap to the next size up if the pan is stripped. Toyota must have a larger drain plug on another model. Basically, you don't want to deal with changing out the pan, its a PIA since you have to drop the diff. I did it a few months ago, took a whole day to get it open and out. :/ __________________ 1997 4x4 Limited 4Runner 3.4L - ARB Tacoma Bumper, Icon's, OME 890's, FZJ-80 Wheels, E-Locker, 285/75/R16 BFG KO's. 1996 4x4 3.4L SR5 4Runner -- SOLD *6" IFS lift Front: Tundra TRD Coils/Bilstein 5125 * Rear: FJ80 Shocks/Coils * ARB Bull Bar + Warn M8000 * 35" MTR's * HID's * OBA * E-locked!**

04-20-2008, 05:59 PM	#6 (permalink)
Froggy93 Registered User Personal Sales Rating: (0) Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Cape Cod, MA Posts: 181	try and get the plug out if you can. You may get lucky and it might just be a stripped plug. I have seen plugs strip and the pan was still good. However, I also have had bad luck with trying to use an oversized plug but have seen a few that worked. I work at a dealer and have seen it happen a couple of times. Toyota uses a welded nut inside the pan. generally when you try and drill it and put an oversized plug in it, the nut breaks loose and you still end up having to replace the pan. This may have been what happened to yours. whoever tightened it up may have gotten a little overzealous and way overtorqued it to the point that the nut broke loose. Or, they may have cross threaded it and ran it in till it wouldn't go anymore and broke it loose. no telling what happened untill you get it off. Not be the downer in the group but don't be suprised if you end up replacing the pan. Good luck. Btw, as far as I know, Toyota only uses one sized drain plug. __________________ 93 T-100 3.0 5spd 4x4 high flow cat, custom duals 17" Powder coated Sequoia wheels 32" Mickey Thompson Baja ATZ tires stock lift new factory clutch- if you order from Downey, make sure you get the right one:( diff breather mod. cobra cb custom rear bumper w/tire carrier-Kennasaw Mtn. acc. In the works. light bar and hella 500's Last edited by Froggy93; 04-20-2008 at 06:00 PM.

04-20-2008, 06:47 PM	#7 (permalink)
nfrantz007 Registered User Personal Sales Rating: (0) [OP] Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Centreville, VA Posts: 35	Fail Ugh is right... I think I'm going to wait for as long as possible since the oil in there is brand new (synthetic). Once I get sick of adding oil and seeing it in my driveway I'll get the plug out and let you know how it goes. Many thanks for all who responded! __________________ 97 4Runner - 99 Front Coils w/ 3/4" top out. OME 906 Rear - 265 75 16 Nitto TG's 2003 Ducati SS800 - Senna 2000 Yamaha Zuma 1997 Yamaha V-Max XT 600

04-20-2008, 07:12 PM	#8 (permalink)
CJM Registered User Personal Sales Rating: (0) Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Central NJ Posts: 4,546	Why not just get an oversized plug and when you draint he oil into a pan put it backin. I done it before on a car at the shop I work in. __________________ 96' T100 SR5 4x4, ISR mod, Custom ABS snorkel, KC 57's Hella optilux el cheapo backup lights. Cobra 19III CB, Firestick 4ft antenna, Bilstein shocks. Be polite. Be professional. But, have a plan to kill everyone you meet.

04-20-2008, 07:41 PM	#10 (permalink)
98runner210 Registered User Personal Sales Rating: (0) Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 798	why not contact who damaged it in the first place and have them make it right. __________________ '98 4Runner Limited White w/ silver flares

04-21-2008, 06:21 PM	#11 (permalink)
nfrantz007 Registered User Personal Sales Rating: (0) [OP] Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Centreville, VA Posts: 35	ok, so i decided I couldn't sit and watch my truck bleed so I took off the skidplates and pulled out the drain plug (vise grips and a lot of pulling while turning) to find a few interesting things. First, the plug was stripped not the pan! So great news there. A quick trip to autozone and 6.71 later I was back in business. Second, I found that I had been carrying around a friend from sometime in my skidplates! (see below) Thanks for all the suggestions and comments! __________________ 97 4Runner - 99 Front Coils w/ 3/4" top out. OME 906 Rear - 265 75 16 Nitto TG's 2003 Ducati SS800 - Senna 2000 Yamaha Zuma 1997 Yamaha V-Max XT 600

04-21-2008, 06:26 PM	#12 (permalink)
nfrantz007 Registered User Personal Sales Rating: (0) [OP] Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Centreville, VA Posts: 35	pics http://picasaweb.google.com/nathan.p...88381432736146 http://picasaweb.google.com/nathan.p...88372842801538 Sorry I am failing miserably at adding these pics to the page... __________________ 97 4Runner - 99 Front Coils w/ 3/4" top out. OME 906 Rear - 265 75 16 Nitto TG's 2003 Ducati SS800 - Senna 2000 Yamaha Zuma 1997 Yamaha V-Max XT 600

04-23-2008, 10:23 AM	#15 (permalink)
ROOFGOOF Registered User Personal Sales Rating: (0) Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: HARFORD COUNTY, Maryland Posts: 788	FUMOTO VALVE !!!! Get one. They are great! __________________ 1999 Toyota 4Runner limited 4x4,BFG's 285/75/16's. Land Cruiser wheels. 2inch 4crawler BL, Factory Locker, 4inch ProComp front IFS lift, front LC coils on the rear with LC shocks. Original owner.18-19-mpg highway. 2007 Dodge Mega Cab 4x4, Mineral Gray, 5.9L Cummins. SMARTY JR, Mufler delete, Silencer ring MIA, SIRIUS. PICTURES OF RIGS http://community.webshots.com/user/roofgoof Owner of 1970 Pontiac GTO JUDGE

04-23-2008, 03:41 PM	#16 (permalink)
cgeorge Registered User Personal Sales Rating: (0) Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 245	how the hell did the bird end up in there? __________________ 1990 Pickup Base 2WD 22R - stock 2000 4Runner SR5 V6 4x4 - Stock Drivetrain for now. SOLD!!!

04-23-2008, 03:59 PM	#17 (permalink)
seanz0rz Guest Personal Sales Rating: (0) Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Cal Poly Pomona or Redlands, CA Posts: 1,274	my only guess is down in the engine compartment, or up through the bottom/back or sides. no way in hell he could have gotten in there from front impact.

04-23-2008, 07:14 PM	#18 (permalink)
Froggy93 Registered User Personal Sales Rating: (0) Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Cape Cod, MA Posts: 181	Nice bird. glad to hear you didn't have to replace the pan. __________________ 93 T-100 3.0 5spd 4x4 high flow cat, custom duals 17" Powder coated Sequoia wheels 32" Mickey Thompson Baja ATZ tires stock lift new factory clutch- if you order from Downey, make sure you get the right one:( diff breather mod. cobra cb custom rear bumper w/tire carrier-Kennasaw Mtn. acc. In the works. light bar and hella 500's

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