Look on Samba . There is a guy who sells extended length plugs   . Every water boxer engine should have one of these in it.  . The original plug is too short . Best $9.00 I've spent in a long time.  

-Stacy

On Jul 10, 2013, at 12:20 AM, Scott Ohana <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>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.
>>