worst case and a little scarry -- you can have the oil pan drilled and a
new plug put in.   That's what I ended up doing with mine and havn't had
any problems.

good luck!

Ivan

--On Tuesday, August 20, 2002 12:31 PM -0400 Jay L Snyder
<Jay.L.Snyder@USA.DUPONT.COM> wrote:

> Try prying down on the plug as you turn it.  There may be some stripped
> thread material preventing it from turning out.  If you get it out, a
> repair can be made by either re-tapping to a larger size, using some kind
> of insert, or one of the various self-tapping replacement plugs.
>
>                                                                   Jay
>
>
>
>
> gary hradek <hradek@YAHOO.COM>@gerry.vanagon.com> on 08/20/2002 12:25:45
> PM
>
> Please respond to gary hradek <hradek@YAHOO.COM>
>
> Sent by:    Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
>
>
> To:    vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> cc:
> Subject:    Oil Drain Plug Removal - unable to remove plug
>
>
> Bob & Sharon,
>             In the future you might consider doing the
> oil change yourself.   It is possible that the plug
> was put in place with two much force and is stripped
> or better perhaps the copper washer is missing.   I
> have heard that you can suck the oil out of the
> crankcase from the fill valve.   Perhaps let sleepy
> dogs alone and make a deal with a different service
> that can suck the oil out, change the filter and add
> oil.   Take care to add oil one quart at a time,
> checking the oil level before adding the next quart as
> you can not be certain how much of the old oil
> remains.
> Keep the van and get a new mechanic as the problems
> points to his dislike of this van.   regards gary
>
> Date:    Mon, 19 Aug 2002 16:23:23 -0700
> From:    bob mendonca <bobnshar@SURFBEST.NET>
> Subject: Oil Drain Plug Removal - unable to remove
> plug
>
> We currently have a problem with our 88 Vanagon where
> the local VW
> mechanic
> (independent) that we took it to is unable to remove
> the drain plug.
> The
> plug turns in place, but doesn't leak, and the
> mechanic tried putting a
> wrench on it to tighten up the plug and was able to
> pull it down and
> turn
> it, but it wouldn't come out.  We also had this
> problem on our 85
> Vanagon,
> but our old mechanic in San Jose was able to get the
> plug out, but
> since we
> now live near San Luis Obispo, taking it back to San
> Jose (400 miles
> round
> trip) isn't an easy thing to do.  Does anybody have
> any suggestions?
> The
> local mechanic also recommended getting rid of the
> vehicle, but we like
> this
> van a lot!
>
> Bob & Sharon Mendonca
>
>
>
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