Just made a fix for a fellow list member.  His threads were completely
stripped out.  We used a 3/8 pipe tap to create new threads, and then used a
3/8 pipe plug as the oil drain plug.

Yes, it is no longer a metric thread.

However, the benefits of a pipe thread are significant.  Because the pipe
thread is tapered, it is virtually impossible to strip the threads again.

Z

-----Original Message-----
From: Stan Wilder [mailto:wilden1@JUNO.COM]
Sent: Friday, June 22, 2001 7:46 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Oil Drain Plug Leaking

There are oversized oil drain plugs available at NAPA.
Drain your oil, get a flashlight, lay down under your van and look at the
threads after you've cleaned them. Use a magnifying glass of you have to,
but take a good look.
If the threads are gone you'll have to use an oversized oil drain plug.
If you install an oversized drain plug I would suggest that you peform
all future oil changes through the oil screen drain removal method.
Optionally you can spend about 80$ and get a heli-coil installed and
change your oil yourself in the future with the use of a torque wrench
and a new gasket each time.
Remember installing half a case doesn't get it, you'd probably need a
complete engine case.

Stan Wilder
83 Westfalia Air Cooled.

On Fri, 22 Jun 2001 09:03:07 -0400 Stephen Fry
<Stephen.Fry@BANKOFAMERICA.COM> writes:
> I do not know about a solution and would be interested in a fix. I
> too have
> this problem and have temporarily solved this by caking on silicone
> over the
> bolt to seal the bolt up. As far as I can tell it would be one heck
> of a job
> to fix since I believe that the threads are a bit worn.
>
> Good Luck
> Stephen
>
> 85 West

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