Had same situation with drip; went to fiber washer.  No more drip. 

Karl Wolz
Sent from my electronic umbilicus

On Jul 10, 2013, at 4:14 AM, George Laubach <skiplaubach@COMCAST.NET> wrote:

> 1.9 case.  I use a torque wrench every time (20' #). When my engine was rebuilt I had to put a time-cert (correct term?) in the oil plug (case was new to me).  I consistently have a minor drip (using proper copper washer). Maybe I'll increase the torque to 25' # next time?
> 
> Sent from my iPad
> 
> On Jul 10, 2013, at 2:34 AM, Aristotle Sagan <killer.jupiter@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
> 
>> There is a difference in responsibility between MY CAR and someone else's.
>> 
>> On Wed, Jul 10, 2013 at 12:33 AM, Scott Ohana <scottdaniel@turbovans.com>wrote:
>> 
>>> But you don't use a torque wrench on vanagon drain plugs ..right ?
>>> No one does.'
>>> not that I ever heard of anyway.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> On 7/10/2013 12:23 AM, Aristotle Sagan wrote:
>>> 
>>> I also don't strip out the plug.
>>> 
>>> On the equipment I do tighten steel into aluminum ($350K robotic systems),
>>> damned straight we use torque wrenches and they do have specs.
>>> 
>>> tim in san jose
>>> 
>>> On Wed, Jul 10, 2013 at 12:20 AM, Scott Ohana <scottdaniel@turbovans.com> <scottdaniel@turbovans.com>wrote:
>>> 
>>> 
>>> If it's in a book somewhere it's probably 18 to 23 ft lbs, would be my
>>> guess.
>>> and yet..
>>> in 50 years of nearly full time car repair I have never heard of anyone using
>>> a torque wrench on a drain plug.
>>> It's not the standard..
>>> 'just right by hand' is the standard.
>>> 
>>> Do YOU tighten your drain plugs with a torque wrench ?
>>> if so..first time I've ever heard of anyone doing it.
>>> 
>>> and there are a few techs that make everything 'gorilla tight' ......and
>>> very incorrectly.
>>> 
>>> On 7/9/2013 11:33 PM, Aristotle Sagan wrote:
>>> 
>>> Did you ask them what torque spec they tightened it to?
>>> Expect blank looks on their faces.
>>> 
>>> tim in san jose
>>> 
>>> On Tue, Jul 9, 2013 at 11:12 PM, Scott Ohana <scottdaniel@turbovans.com> <scottdaniel@turbovans.com> <scottdaniel@turbovans.com> <scottdaniel@turbovans.com>wrote:
>>> 
>>> 
>>> yup..
>>> that happens sometimes.
>>> Not too commonly.
>>> One of the vanagons I have cared for over the last few years has that
>>> issue.
>>> 50 others do not.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> On 7/9/2013 11:00 PM, C Snyder wrote:
>>> 
>>> 
>>> I had an almost bad experience today with my 1987  Vanagon's oil plug.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> I had taken it to where I usually take my van for repairs and oil
>>> changes. In a short while they came and told me that when they went to
>>> replace the oil plug, the plug stripped out in the bottom of the engine. I
>>> really do not understand this as I have never had any problems with the
>>> plug. they said that since that plug has been taken out so many times, that
>>> because it is aluminum, and the plug is steel that some times they will
>>> strip out the threads.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> To fix it, they were able to put in an over sized "Piggy back" oil  plug.
>>> It seems to be ding fine but, am just wondering if any one else has ever
>>> had this type of problem as I have been on this list several years but,
>>> have never heard it mentioned here before.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Thanks for any ones opinion on this.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Chris S.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> --
>>> Where ever you are, there you be. Unless you're driving my van, in which
>>> case, you ain't got there yet.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> --
>>> Where ever you are, there you be. Unless you're driving my van, in which
>>> case, you ain't got there yet.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>> 
>> 
>> --
>> Where ever you are, there you be. Unless you're driving my van, in which
>> case, you ain't got there yet.