[s-cars] Oil drain plug

[Tom Mullane]

Bob,

I tend to agree on the drain plug, but I question the wisdom of draining the
cooler.  I would think that retaining the small amount of old oil trapped in
the cooler would be less detrimental to the engine than the extra time it
will run without oil waiting for the cooler and lines to refill.

Tom 


Date: Mon, 12 Apr 2004 22:16:37 -0400
From: "Bob Rossato" <bob.rossato at att.net>
Subject: RE: [s-cars] Oil drain plug
To: "Dave Forgie" <forgied at ae.ca>, <s-car-list at audifans.com>
Message-ID: <LOBBINDDLNBLMPCDBAAFIEABKGAA.bob.rossato at att.net>

> Bob:  I think heat just makes things worse:  The plug expands and
> the hole gets smaller = more clamping force.  Tapping with plug
> with a hammer to free up some of the corrosion may help. (This is
> why I switched to Fumoto years ago).
>
> Dave F.

Sorry, but the hole gets larger.  Think of it as the whole thing being
scaled up, in a minute way.

The key to getting the drain plug out, assuming the head hasn't been
completely rounded off, is to use a good 6-pt socket (never a 12-pt) on the
end of an 18" breaker bar and make sure you are perfectly square when you go
to loosen it.  Getting the car up on a set of Rhino ramps gives you plenty
of clearance for the breaker bar, not to mention clearance for belly pan
removal.

Personally, I'm in the minority as I'm not a fan of the Fumoto valves.  I
don't like to leave a 1/2" of old oil, with all the associated particulate
sediment, in the bottom of the pan.  I will gladly forsake convenience for
the ability to drain as much of the oil as possible.  I even go through the
trouble of disconnecting the oil cooler lines and draining the lines and
cooler.  A bit overkill, I know, but that's me.

Bob