[s-cars] Oil drain plug

[Dave Forgie]

Bob:  I know you are correct for an UNCONSTRAINED piece of metal with a hole it.  HOWEVER, the oil pan is constrained (by the bolts, its shape (to some degree), etc).  Where does all that metal expansion go?  I contest (but cannot prove) that in this case, the hole absorbs some of the expansion by getting smaller and therefore tighter on the threads.  Any metalurgists in the crowd with a spare oil pan, an oven and a micrometer?

Dave F.

>>> "Bob Rossato" <bob.rossato at att.net> 04/12/04 07:16PM >>>
Sorry, but the hole gets larger.  Think of it as the whole thing being
scaled up, in a minute way.
Bob