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 Oil plug leak

 Created by: gypsy
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 Posted: Apr 3, 2017 09:15AM
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  • Check Amazon for expandable rubber (neoprene) plug.  A friend of mine used one to get home from Mini Meet in Winona, Minnesota.  Worked great until he was able to install a helicoil.

 Posted: Mar 30, 2017 05:16PM
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Thanks everyone, the blue thread locker is working great for now, when i have more time ill do a more permanent fix. 

 Posted: Mar 28, 2017 03:44AM
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Another option since your drain plug is not original is to simply work with what you have.

Take the drain plug/bolt to the parts store and find the closest size Nylon drain plug washer.  The Nylon drain washers will squish and form the seal you need easier than copper.  Carry a few spares in the boot just in case someone changes the oil for you and messes up the washer that was in use.

Assuming this is a replacement, oversized drain plug, it probably does not have a magnet attached like the factory drain plug.  If that's true, look for cylindrical magnets (eBay, Amazon, etc).  Buy some about 1/4 to 5/16" in diameter and maybe 1 to 1.5" long.  While the drain plug is out, drill a hole down (but not through) its center from the threaded end.  Degrease the magnet and drain plug hole with brake cleaner and bond the magnet in with JB Weld.  

Doug L.
 Posted: Mar 28, 2017 02:49AM
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If you can modify your existing drain plug this way and reseal in you may be good to go. The sump does not drain completely when level so I raise the left side up when draining.

As I have a sump guard installed oil changes have always been messy. To help with that I have had the drain plug drilled out and tapped for a Fumoto drain valve. I think this one may be the smallest one they make (F124), they do not make a direct fit any longer. Does not need to be any larger as the inside of the drain plug is not large anyway. Now I can hook a hose to the valve and flip the lever and direct it to the catch pan.

"How can anything bigger be mini?"

 Posted: Mar 28, 2017 01:57AM
 Edited:  Mar 28, 2017 01:58AM
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from your description, someone has stripped the threads, then drilled it oversized and fitted god knows what as a drain plug

The sealing is made by the face, so if the hole was not drilled exactly straight the result is an un-sealable hole.


I was able to helicoil mine back to the original thread and then grind the face so that it is perpendicular to the existing, crooked hole.



Perhaps Dr Mini's suggestion of a liberal use of form-a-gasket on the threads will be capable of holding the oil in (and re-apply each time the oil is changed).

 Posted: Mar 27, 2017 06:34PM
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Wipe the threads after draining oil, and smear them with a little Loctite 242 or similar.

I had a similar problem where someone had helicoiled the thread and didn't do it square to the washer face.

Loctite worked for me.

Kevin G

1360 power- Morris 1300 auto block, S crank & rods, Russell Engineering RE282 sprint cam, over 125HP at crank, 86.6HP at the wheels @7000+.

 Posted: Mar 27, 2017 03:44PM
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Anyone out there have a good way to stop a oil plug leak. Mine is about 3 drops an hour. I put a new copper washer on when i changed the oil. I think it might be a over size plug already because i ordered the magnetic one from here, but you can just push it in and it just pulls out. Makes no contact with the threads. Put the old one back on. Help anyone?   Thanks, Gary