Oil pan and drain plug threads stripped... F!!!

[Precision]

So I started my first oil change on the green bean and the drain plug was impossible to get off... It started to spin and spin, yes I was going the correct direction. Finally I said wtf and did one turn the other way to see if it'd get tighter... Yep, tighter and what the hell oil leaking. I took it to the shop down the street and lifted it, got the plug out to find half the threads stripped, got a new drain plug in there and it seems to be that some of the pan threads are stripped too. F!!! My guy said that it's probable that it was like that for a while. Is there any good go to fix for this besides replacing the entire damn pan? My guy mentioned an oversized bolt for the next change and that might work. If not what the hell should I do? See ya later tire cash

 

[koda2000]

So I started my first oil change on the green bean and the drain plug was impossible to get off... It started to spin and spin, yes I was going the correct direction. Finally I said wtf and did one turn the other way to see if it'd get tighter... Yep, tighter and what the hell oil leaking. I took it to the shop down the street and lifted it, got the plug out to find half the threads stripped, got a new drain plug in there and it seems to be that some of the pan threads are stripped too. F!!! My guy said that it's probable that it was like that for a while. Is there any good go to fix for this besides replacing the entire damn pan? My guy mentioned an oversized bolt for the next change and that might work. If not what the hell should I do? See ya later tire cash

auto parts stores sell an over-sized oil pan plug for this purpose. it's kind of tapered and has cuts at the end to cut new threads. they're really messy to remove for oil changes because the oil starts coming out the cuts before the plug comes out. a heli-coil will allow you to replace the threads in the pan. more work, but a better more permanent fix.

 

[Turdle]

Careful though if you have an aluminum pan. It cannot handle the stress of a self tapping screw--ask me how I know??


http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=242451

 

[koda2000]

Careful though if you have an aluminum pan. It cannot handle the stress of a self tapping screw--ask me how I know??


http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=242451

ouch, that sucks. i think all the 5.0's had steel oil pans. i almost had a similar experience with by AWD transfer case fill plug. i had removed it to check the oil level (as it was leaking). when i put the NPT plug back in i was tightening it and realized i had it in much further than when i had removed it. then i remembered i was screwing it into cast aluminum, said to myself "oh s__t" and backed it out again. no damage done, thank goodness.

 

[delexploder]

ouch, that sucks. i think all the 5.0's had steel oil pans.

The early ones had a cast aluminum one 96/97,

 

[Turdle]

That was on a 98 5.0 ( actually 347 but who's counting). I am Pretty sure my 2000 v8 has an aluminum pan also.

 

[koda2000]

That was on a 98 5.0 ( actually 347 but who's counting). I am Pretty sure my 2000 v8 has an aluminum pan also.

you may be right about the aluminum pans on the 5.0's (you'd think i would have noticed by now with all the oil changes i've done). for the life of me i can not understand why people go nuts tightening drain plugs and oil filters, but it seems like every used car i buy is a struggle to get them off the first time.

 

[delexploder]

That was on a 98 5.0 ( actually 347 but who's counting). I am Pretty sure my 2000 v8 has an aluminum pan also.

I have only seen them on early 97 and 96 with the non p heads, I'll have to keep an eye out for that when we buy the next few,

 

[1992fordgreen]

use those universal large plugs koda mentioned. better then removing the entire **** pan ya know...

 

[deweyville65]

How about tapping out the thread to 9/16' SAE, use a bolt with a gasket/ o-ring on it?

 

[Precision]

It's holding now with the new plug I haven't seen any oil around the plug and I've driven 60 miles so far. Only half of the threads on the drain plug were stripped.