Stripping of the oil plug --- is this not caused by over torquing that
plug?? Although I have not seen it, there should be be a torque
specification somewhere for that oil plug,. and if it is used and
applied properly, there should be no stripped plugs.

I understand the concern about that plug - if not tightened adequately -
uscrewing over time and vibration, falling out and dumping the oil.
Engines are the single biggest expense item in a van. They need
protective measures applied. Aircraft engines are also expensive. When a
plug falls out, the repercussions are enormous. Engine seizure, airplane
crash, lives lost. Worse that a van, but on airplanes things are done
--- like applying safty wire to the oil plug so it cannot back out.
Seems reasonable to me. I'm going to check it out on my on van. prol'ly
requires drilling a hole through two adjoing flats on the head. Then I
can shove some wire thorugh the hole, twist it together, and tie it off
in a tightening direction to something.

John Rodgers
88 GL Driver

Paul Guzyk wrote:

> This is not a joke.  (Inboard) boat owners do this all the time.
>
> Think about it, how do you get under a boat engine to drain the oil
> if the engine is already at the bottom of the boat?
>
>
>> Stripping the oil plug seems to be a common
>> problem so I stopped removing the plug  all together.
>>  Pumping the oil out of the dip stick takes a bit
>> longer
>
>
>