Oil Drain Plug WON'T TIGHTEN

TXJack · #1 03-20-2010, 08:52 PM

So after completing my free service based off the dealer I bought from, I started changing my own oil again. It seems like they used a torque wrench to put the oil drain plug back on, because it was a bitch to get off. After a good 2 or 3 minutes and a skinned knuckle later off it goes, but now IT WON'T TIGHTEN BACK ON. It just keeps spinning around and wiggles if you tap it or manipulate it with your hand. Does it look like I need a new one?

I hope it's not the pan...

smakes · #2 03-20-2010, 08:54 PM

yep, looks like you def need a new one lol

richarddhoward · #3 03-20-2010, 09:09 PM

Yes you need a new plug, and probably need a tap to make sure the threads in the pan are ok too

edgeman4.0 · #4 03-20-2010, 09:20 PM

What they said. Worst case scenario you'll need a new pan.

TXJack · #5 03-20-2010, 09:38 PM

Only two photos I could get of the drain plug hole. Dang, I'm never letting anyone touch my truck again. What the hell did they do, put a trainee on it or something? Whats the "tamper paint" and pry marks all about...

The threading looks like it will hold up. But Ill probably have to find somewhere to order the pan to be on the safe side. I don't think it's something I can get tomorrow, no rental places around me have any stock and I have to be to work at 5:30am. This is a "F my life" moment I think, lol.

DangerRanger01 · #6 03-20-2010, 09:51 PM

most of those oil changing places just use air wrenches to tighten them on...usually striped the threads, happens all the time.
You kind of are out of luck without a tap and new plug to bolt in. if you're lucky that will work, if not you'd need a new oil pan or drill out and weld in a new nut on the pan...

DHEM · #7 03-20-2010, 10:04 PM

well I think you are supposed to torque them down to 20ft-lbs, or that's how I was taught, but yeah that bolt is stripped, run a tap on the pan, and look at it closely for damage, it looks like it was over tightened, you could yell at the dealer too while at it. And yeah, the new guys do the simple jobs like quick lube, the experienced dudes are changing tires, replacing alternators and stuff. It could have been worse, like an idiot that forgets to check and see if the oil filter seal is still on the motor, people have lost engines because of that.

Vrod21 · #8 03-20-2010, 10:45 PM

Definitely try to tap it first and get a new plug. Around $10 for a tap and $5 for a plug. A lot cheaper than a new pan.

SPless · #9 03-20-2010, 11:28 PM

the pan should be fine, the fords usually have a bad problem with stripping the oil plugs, with the worst being the early '90s cars

TXJack · #10 03-21-2010, 12:49 PM

I appreciate the replies everyone. Problem solved now.
Going down to that stealership tomorrow after work and raising some hell.

Fx4wannabe01 · #11 03-21-2010, 12:50 PM

glad you got it all fixed. that's one of the major reasons I'm the only one who changes oil in my cars.

TXJack · #12 03-21-2010, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fx4wannabe01

glad you got it all fixed. that's one of the major reasons I'm the only one who changes oil in my cars.

Yeah. This is the first time I've ever taken a vehicle in to be serviced, since it was free. I don't care what offers they have later down the road when I get a new truck, no one is ever going to touch my baby again! lol

If this would of happened to my mustang (no one but me has touched it since the day I got it), I'd be down there with a gun, not a unsatisfied demeanor! lol

jred · #13 03-21-2010, 01:19 PM

Go find the ******* who did that and bitch-slap him and then make his boss replace the pan and plug. Was that a Ford dealer that screwed that up?

Ranger_EDGE · #14 03-21-2010, 01:32 PM

exact same thing happened to mine when i bought it. second day of owning it big oil puddle underneath my truck. the guy had i bought it from had some shity mechanics this is why i do my own oil changes. had to have a new bolt and had to have the hole drilled bigger. mine was so striped i was lucky the plug didn't fall out and freeze up my motor.

TXJack · #15 03-23-2010, 12:19 PM

As a update I went in to the stealership with the oil plug and pictures of the pan and talked to the service manager. I made sure he knew I was a repeat customer who made many referrals (some turned into sales since I got $50 referral gift cards) and purchased TWO cars from them. The guy almost shit a brick when he saw the plug and pan pictures, lol. He gave me a free pan which will be mailed from ford, plug and a bunch of complimentary ford merchandise. He offered to install it and do the oil change for free. But I said I already spent money to repair the old pan and will just take the new one in case it leaks down the road. I got a feeling someone is getting fired today.