Flint

Okay, I've just decided to replace the bolt that is keeping the oil (or most of it) inside the engine. It's simply a bolt that someone must have found that closely fits the hole/thread size, but I can screw it in and wiggle it, so obviously it's not doing the whole job, and especially if I decide to switch to a winter weight oil. SO, I ordered a replacement, which didn't fit. No big problem, I figured I just ordered the plug for the S4 and later cars by mistake, so I ordered the other style--which didn't fit either. "What the f*%$ is going on?" I wonder, probably aloud a few times. Is there yet another plug available? Several? Could someone have re-tapped the drain hole to accept a bigger thread? I obviously can't put any more oil in the car until I have the right plug.

AO

Had a similar problem on my Jag. I believe the oil pan is made of aluminum. Very soft. Some moron probably over tourqed the plug and stripped the threads. Then they might have re-tapped it with a slightly larger plug, and now that's stripped. At least this is what happened on my jag. I, too, needed to fix it, so what I did was use one of these expandable tappered rubber plugs. You shove it in the hole, then push the arm down. There's a cam action at the pivot of the arm that compresses the plug and snugs it even more. This was supposed to be a temporary fix. It's been almost 2 years now and not a drip which is unbelieveable for a Jag.

I would still investigate getting a permanent replacement, but this should do in a pinch. You should be able to find one at any local auto parts store.

Flint

What's the old joke about Land Rovers dripping oil? I had actually debated about just letting it drip so I know my 928 is still alive, it's just that the darn Mobil 1 is so expensive! What's strange is that, if someone had stripped and re-tapped the hole (which is the only logical explanation I can see) shouldn't it be *bigger* than the original plug? I can't even fit the end of the orginal plug in! Hmmm. That's a good idea, Andrew, I'll have to look for one. Do they have the magnetic point at the end? When I called 928 Spec. to ask if there was a third option, they suggested whatever I get has one. Who'd have thought such a simple hole could be so much trouble?

So... anyone need a plug? <img src="graemlins/c.gif" border="0" alt="[ouch]" />

SteveG

Hey Andrew, you mean you are using the same thing I use to stopper left over wine? (Whaddya mean left over, never heard of such a thing, was my thought when I saw them in Crate & Barrel, then I knew, like you, a use for it.) Seriously, is that what you are using? I haven't changed it yet, but in looking at catalogue for crush ring, I see there are two sizes, does anybody know what fits an 85? <img src="confused.gif" border="0">