[s-cars] Fumoto

[Tom Green]

You never hear a complaint at the dealer if they regularly change the 
oil, because they (usually)  replace the sealing
washer and torque the plug.  Most others crank the plug down to deform 
the old washer to new position,
  resulting in grossly overtorquing the plug and flattening the washer 
which puts the plug closer to the mating
  surface of the pan.    The pan is also softer than the plug, so any 
burrs left on the mating side of the plug from
  slipping wrenches, including adjustable wrenches and pliers, dig into 
the pan and lock the plug in place.
The plug system appears too sophisticated for the average oil change 
"specialist".
I personally don't see the fuss over the fumoto.  Most of the time is 
spent on the lower cover r&r.

Tom '95 S6

On Mar 10, 2005, at 4:44 PM, Rich Beebe <rich at beebecomm.com>  wrote:

> as someone that's relatively new to audis, can someone explain
> why this drain plug is such a pita to get out? i've never run
> across a car that had such a problem with a simple drain plug
> before. it's not as if they seize up over years of time - it's
> an oil drain plug. i just can't understand why they seize up
> so badly and this valve is used by so many people here. more
> curious than anything.
>
> rich