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Old 07-29-2017, 06:27 PM   #1
seasonedsurfer
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Default Advice Needed - Oil plug issues

Gents,
Just picked up an 04 WRX. Wanted to some minor maintenance to make sure everything was good to go.

Went to drain the oil and couldn't get the plug to budge. Chipped away what appears to be red dry RTV from around the plug.

Needless to say, I'm freaked out that someone torqued this so tight and possible got RTV in the threads.

Anyone have experience in breaking up the RTV? Some type of solvent that works, or ancient family secret???

Thanks in advance!
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Old 07-29-2017, 06:35 PM   #2
DrD
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an impact should back it right out...

That being said - generally, folks don't use RTV unless they are dealing with a leak, so it's possible the threads are stripped/damaged on the plug. RTV also should be pretty soft - if it's hard, it's likely not RTV - hopefully it's not red threadlocker... if the threads are boogered up, you can drill out and helicoil the plug, or replace the pan.
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Old 07-29-2017, 06:36 PM   #3
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Before you go any further, consider the possibility (a very likely one) that someone stripped out the drain plug and used the RTV to glue it in place rather than do a proper repair. There really is no other good reason why anyone would use RTV there.
If this is the case, once you break it free it may not be possible to tighten it back into place. The plug and/or the oil pan may need to be replaced.

edit- DrD got there first while I was typing.
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Old 07-29-2017, 06:59 PM   #4
seasonedsurfer
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That's what I was afraid of. I have helicoil kits at work I could repair if necessary.

I'm hoping the guy was trying to reuse the crush washer and couldn't get a good seal...wishful thinking -_-
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Old 07-29-2017, 09:23 PM   #5
CosmoTheCat
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OR, consider the possibility that it's quick lube paint that they use to mark the drain plug after it's been tightened.
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Old 07-30-2017, 12:42 PM   #6
n2oiroc
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Quote:
Originally Posted by seasonedsurfer View Post
Gents,
Just picked up an 04 WRX. Wanted to some minor maintenance to make sure everything was good to go.

Went to drain the oil and couldn't get the plug to budge. Chipped away what appears to be red dry RTV from around the plug.

Needless to say, I'm freaked out that someone torqued this so tight and possible got RTV in the threads.

Anyone have experience in breaking up the RTV? Some type of solvent that works, or ancient family secret???

Thanks in advance!
if it really is rtv and if the threads are trashed, just replace the oil pan. they are like $85 and easy to do. its not worth the risk of metal chips and globs of rtv getting in the oil pickup if you attempt to fix it.
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Old 07-30-2017, 01:10 PM   #7
Mulder
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Bottom line, given all the possible scenarios- when you're ready to dump the oil make sure the car is in a place where it can stay for a while.
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Old 08-02-2017, 02:05 PM   #8
CosmoTheCat
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Or post a pic and let us actually see it.
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Old 08-04-2017, 12:52 AM   #9
seasonedsurfer
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CosmoTheCat View Post
Or post a pic and let us actually see it.
Ended up borrowing a breaker bar from a friend. Plug was just way overtorqued -_- Thankfully the threads are fine. Breaker bar and a bit of elbow grease and it came right out. Ran back in by hand smoothly and no oil drips.

I didn't see any RTV around the threads so my best guess is that it was dried mark from a paint stick.
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