Alfred:

This was the best mod I ever did was to fix this darn problem. I waited
for months being very, VERY afraid of ruining it - but it went very
easily and leaks hardly at all (I think I may have gone a bit too far).
My experience with an oversized plug and one, then 2, washers lasted
only a few oil changes.

The solution I did was as Zoran advised - tapping w/ a 3/8" NPT pipe tap
and then using a tapered pip tap (similar to the drain plug on  the
transmission) - both are available from local hardware store. To be sure
that the shavings were not pushed up into the case, after tapping, I
poured MMO (marvels mystery oil) in and let it drain directly through to
rinse the shavings out.

I'd never used a tap before, so I practiced on an a whole in a piece of
metal - I think it was an old lawnmower blade that had a hole already in it.

Good luck!

In *V*anagon *W*esty love, light, & laughter,
Jay
Springfield MO
'87 Westy
343k miles

alfred bagdan wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> Has anyone used Permatex tread fixing compound to successfully fix the
> female treads in the Vanagon that hold the oil drain plug.  I've tried
> a 14
> mm oversize plug, but the oil keeps slowly dripping.  I hate to buy a
> Helicoil kit for just one plug, besides I don't know who has them here in
> that size.
>
> Thanks
>
> Alfred
> 85 westy
>