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07-29-2017, 06:27 PM | #1 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 469651
Join Date: Jun 2017
Chapter/Region:
SWIC
Location: Southern AZ
Vehicle:2004 WRX Black Java Pearl |
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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07-29-2017, 06:35 PM | #2 |
Scooby Guru
Member#: 22412
Join Date: Aug 2002
Chapter/Region:
SWIC
Location: Albuquerque, NM
Vehicle:2024 Legacy Sport |
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. |
07-29-2017, 06:36 PM | #3 |
Trust no one
Moderator Member#: 11170
Join Date: Oct 2001
Chapter/Region:
Tri-State
Location: NYC
Vehicle:02 RAV4 MT 15 WRX/11 CRZ |
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. |
07-29-2017, 06:59 PM | #4 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 469651
Join Date: Jun 2017
Chapter/Region:
SWIC
Location: Southern AZ
Vehicle:2004 WRX Black Java Pearl |
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 -_- |
07-29-2017, 09:23 PM | #5 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 3409
Join Date: Jan 2001
Chapter/Region:
NWIC
Location: Oly
Vehicle:98 My FMIC Is bigger than yours. |
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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07-30-2017, 12:42 PM | #6 | |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 141952
Join Date: Feb 2007
Chapter/Region:
MWSOC
Location: milwaukee'ish
Vehicle:2023 M340i |
Quote:
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07-30-2017, 01:10 PM | #7 |
Trust no one
Moderator Member#: 11170
Join Date: Oct 2001
Chapter/Region:
Tri-State
Location: NYC
Vehicle:02 RAV4 MT 15 WRX/11 CRZ |
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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08-02-2017, 02:05 PM | #8 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 3409
Join Date: Jan 2001
Chapter/Region:
NWIC
Location: Oly
Vehicle:98 My FMIC Is bigger than yours. |
Or post a pic and let us actually see it.
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08-04-2017, 12:52 AM | #9 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 469651
Join Date: Jun 2017
Chapter/Region:
SWIC
Location: Southern AZ
Vehicle:2004 WRX Black Java Pearl |
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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