Wow! I just changed the oil on my Celica and this drain plug is LEaking big time. There is a huge puddle under my car. I tightened it down too. The threads shouldn't be stripped. I didn't go that hard. WHat is the best way to seal these things? teflon tape? Blue loc-tite?

Suggestions?

 

might just try a new gasket/washer from the dealer...cost a buck or two.

they are deformable metal, so, theoretically, you should use a new one everytime (since the metal is supposed to deform to match the irregularities of the two surfaces), but, in reality, usually you can get away with just reusing them many times...but, eventually they do wear out.

 

Ditto, I bet the washer is toast.....new one should solve that problem (you might be giving the car a oil flush this time).

 

I've been a lot happier with copper washers. They're available at most auto parts stores and usually stocked with filters or oil. I believe the brand that Pep Boys carries is 'Oil Tite'. Anyway, I like the copper ones because they don't crush as easily and leak. Just my experience.

 

cool I'll go get a new washer with my new 5 quarts of oil...damn!!!

hopefully autozone or kragen has one. The one on there now looks like black plastic

 

When you pull it off I bet you will see it was cracked in half (engine heat will do that to plastic or nylon washers). If you can I would either get a copper or aluminum washer because they can be crushed a few times before needing replacement and won't crack like rubber or nylon will when exposed to high heat.

 

You can even make one if you have to. I have made them out of things like a plastic quart oil bottle. Just cut it out to fit over the drain plug. They will last at least an oil change or two (maybe more) before you have to make another one.

 

Sounds like drain plug gasket to me. My WRX had a crush gasket that I replaced on every oil change. Something like that maybe?

 

Yeah, those fibrous "crush" washers seem to work pretty good from my experiences with various cars.

 

And, of course, be sure both surfaces of the washer, the mating surface of the oil pan and the threads on the plug are clean. It doesn't take much grime or grit to prevent a good seal.